For the very first time, we are seeing and hearing from the man at the center of the recently unsealed city hall search warrant.

Former Pittsburgh City Council attorney Dan Friedson sat down with Chief Investigator Rick Earle to talk about his meeting with investigators from the Allegheny County District Attorney's office.

Friedson says he spoke with investigators twice in 2023 after being instructed by City Council members to meet with them.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Search warrant served on City of Pittsburgh unsealed

The meetings occurred after the district attorney's office began looking at a no-bid police staffing study that suggested Pittsburgh was adequately staffed despite being short more than 100 officers.

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Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said the $180,000 study wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Unsealed last week, the search warrant raises questions regarding no-bid contracts, Stop the Violence funds, overestimating revenue to secure favorable bond ratings and ties to the Service Employees International Union and the Working Families Party.

Friedson noted that he met with investigators in his professional capacity and was not acting independently.

"I attended a meeting. I didn't call this meeting. I wasn't a rogue whistleblower. I was acting under orders of council who the city of Pittsburgh, the people of the city of Pittsburgh, should be thrilled to know that you council members are fighting to make sure that they...

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