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AMSTERDAM, NY—Following a letter submitted by Congressman Paul D. Tonko to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) calling for any documents and information the agency has in connection with Shahed Hussain, the owner of Prestige Limousine, the FBI announced that an investigation and review into the 2018 Schoharie limousine crash has been commenced by the FBI’s Inspection Division and is currently ongoing.

“I was deeply disturbed by the extensive press coverage alleging connection between the FBI and Prestige Limousine as it pertained to the tragic Schoharie limo crash that took the lives of 20 people in October 2018,” Congressman Tonko said. “Following this coverage, I sent a letter on behalf of the families of the loved ones who were lost to the agency demanding answers on the accuracy of these allegations. While the FBI initially refused to comment on potential FBI connections to the case, my staff and I continued to push behind the scenes and I’m grateful that the FBI has finally agreed to open an investigation into how this matter was handled. These families deserve answers and I will not stop until they have them. I look forward learning more from the FBI about the results of this investigation and will continue to do all I can to search for answers into this senseless tragedy.”

This letter comes after an initially dismissive response from the FBI earlier this year. The original letter Tonko sent to the FBI in January can be read HERE. 

The letter Tonko received can be read below and HERE.

The Honorable Paul Tonko
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Tonko:

This further responds to your letter, dated January 31, 2022, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), regarding a tragic limousine crash that occurred on October 6, 2018, in Schoharie, New York. This supplements our prior correspondence, dated February 18, 2022.

The FBI shares your concerns about this tragic limousine crash that claimed the lives of twenty people. In recent months, concerns have been raised about this incident and whether there was any FBI involvement in the investigation. As a result, the Director ordered that the FBI further review the matter. A review was promptly commenced by the Inspection Division and is ongoing. Therefore, the FBI is not in a position to provide further information at this time.

Thank you for your continued support of the FBI, our mission, and our people.

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