Officials asked to investigate Hoffa

The request was sparked by a federal ruling overturning the Teamsters 1996 election results. Last month, court-appointed election overseer Barbara Zack Quindel voided the election, citing ''a complex network of schemes'' to funnel $221,000 in prohibited union and employer funds to his campaign.

That decision has riled Carey supporters, who insist Hoffa is also guilty of fund-raising abuses, The Oakland Press reported yesterday.

ok at disqualifying Carey.''

Hoffa's campaign spokesperson Richard Leebove said Hoffa ran a clean campaign.

''We played by the rules,'' Leebove said. ''They're looking for equivalency, and there is no equivalency between what Hoffa did and what Carey did.''

According to Quindel's calculations, Hoffa raised $3.6 million in last year's campaign and spent more than $3.8 million. More than $2 million of that total came from small, untraceable contributions of less than $100.

Carey supporters say part of that $2 million came illegally from the treasuries of local unions, the Press reported. Part of that claim is based on Hoffa's minimal expenditures on staff and travel expenses.

Also, a federal grand jury has been investigating the finances of Teamster Local 337 in Detroit, which had expenses exceeding its income by thousands of dollars. The post is headed by Larry Brennan, a chief Hoffa supporter.

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