Pittsburgh Deputy Mayor details findings of P-card investigation

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The recent arrest of former city employee Mario Ashkar, who was found to have written a Nazi epithet on a North Side sidewalk, has raised significant concerns regarding his rehiring as a contractor after being terminated for poor performance. Questions have emerged about the city’s decision to pay Ashkar using a P-card instead of a standard check, prompting an internal investigation by the Office of Municipal Investigations (OMI). The OMI's findings concluded that the irregular payments violated city policy and placed the responsibility solely on CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas. Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak characterized the payments as "honest mistakes" and denied any personal relationship between Vargas and Ashkar influenced the hiring decision. He emphasized that the investigation found no basis for claims suggesting otherwise. In light of the investigation, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office executed a search warrant for related materials, which Pawlak attributed to ongoing tensions between the DA's office and the Gainey administration. He expressed skepticism about the need for a criminal investigation, asserting that the matter had been sensationalized by media attention. Despite the investigation's conclusions, Controller Rachel Heisler raised concerns about its thoroughness, indicating that questions remain unanswered. In response, Pawlak has mandated retraining for Vargas on P-card usage and increased monitoring of her department's transactions, although he confirmed that Vargas would not face termination. The Gainey administration maintains that employees who make honest mistakes should be given opportunities for improvement.