Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has denounced a federal probe into allegations of fraud and corruption, calling it racially motivated and referred to federal officials as "the forces of evil" and making "a deal with the devil."

The investigation originally began last June, resulting in bribery convictions against a former county commissioner, a former commission staff member, and a city contractor. Since then, through "gossip and innuendo," according to the mayor, the investigation has expanded to include the subpoena of city records, allegations concerning the mayor�s gambling trips, the release of a strip club owner who is charged with arson, robbery and who was audiotaped contracting a hit-man to bring physical harm to the mayor.

"The FBI has never been a friend of the African-American community, and they�re not a friend now,�� the city�s third Black mayor stated. In addition, Mr. Campbell claimed federal authorities have asked racially provocative and politically motivated questions of friends, family and colleagues in an attempt to assassinate his character.

"This investigation seemingly has no rational boundaries," said the mayor during a city hall news conference on Sept. 19. "It has no logical existence. It has no scope," he said.

The mayor said he has never violated the public trust nor tolerated public corruption. "What I have done is take on corrupt and impermissible activities in the strip club industry," he said.

Mr. Campbell said that industry in Atlanta makes over $100 million annually by some accounts. Citing several illegal infractions, the mayor has revoked more liquor licenses during his six and one-half years in office than any of his predecessors, prompting unnatural pressure to reissue liquor licenses and a secretly recorded contract negotiation by strip club owner Michael Childs of Club Nikki�s, against his life with federal officials allowing Mr. Childs to be released on bail, Mr. Campbell said.

"Michael Childs attempted to pay $20,000 for a hit man to physically harm me. Quote, �mess him up, mess him up real bad. It�ll send a message to the new mayor not to mess with me.� These are chilling words," the mayor said. "Incredibly, neither the FBI nor the U.S. Attorney�s Office thought enough of my life or the safety of my family to even inform me of this direct threat. I wonder if this threat was made against a federal judge or against the federal prosecutors leading this investigation, would he still be in jail?" he asked.

Federal authorities have become allies with Mr. Childs and made "a deal with the devil," said Mayor Campbell, charging FBI agents interrogated a lifelong friend about a $400 check the mayor wrote to him years ago for help with a medical problem.

"When he (the friend) protested the unfairness of the inquiry, the agent asked how could he afford the house that he lived in, and told him his own business had been investigated. His offense, seemingly, was to be a friend of mine," Mr. Campbell said.

Mayor Campbell is not the only subject of the federal corruption investigation. Federal authorities also have investigated corruption in Fulton County.

The men who head the FBI and U.S. attorney�s office in Atlanta, Theodore Jackson and Richard H. Deane Jr, have kept very low profiles during the unfolding saga and have refused comment on the issue. Justice Department spokesmen in Washington have also declined to comment on the mayor�s accusations. They have consistently declined to confirm that an investigation into city government is being conducted.

As to why the investigation, the mayor said, "perhaps there is political motivation. Perhaps there are ideological differences regarding my aggressive stand on affirmative action." The city�s affirmative action program is now in federal court. The mayor continues his defense of the program vowing to "fight to the death" to protect it.

--Eric Ture Muhammad