The FBI is interviewing Atherton residents and others about town matters, according to a former employee who said he was interviewed recently. But the federal law enforcement agency's interest apparently goes beyond the town's borders, according to another person who was interviewed and who contacted The Almanac.
Former finance director John Johns said he was interviewed about two weeks ago by an agent in the San Francisco office of the FBI.
Mr. Johns, who successfully sued the town for wrongful termination and has a complaint filed against the police department for alleged evidence tampering and falsification of a police report, said the agent didn't share information with him about the scale and scope of the investigation.
"It would be prudent for me to not convey to you what I conveyed to them," he said. He added, however, that he was asked about his own experiences with the town, and that he spoke to the agent about "the conduct of both elected and appointed officials."
"And they seemed to be very interested in what I said," Mr. Johns told The Almanac. "The FBI took very good notes."
Mr. Johns said he was not told he shouldn't talk about the interview.
A reliable source who also was interviewed by two FBI agents and who contacted The Almanac said the agents' interests extended to "a number of people who work for the county." The person spoke on condition of anonymity.
An Atherton resident who did not wish to be identified acknowledged that he, too, had been interviewed about his experiences with the town.
Julianne Sohn, a spokeswoman with the San Francisco office of the FBI, said that as a matter of policy she could not confirm or deny that an investigation is taking place.