Sept. 15, 2004 - Two US Forest Service employees have filed a complaint alleging First District Representative Henry Brown used his office to threaten the service if he was fined for a fire last winter in the Francis Marion National Forest.

A Charleston newspaper reports Wednesday the complaint filed last week with the Agriculture Department Inspector General's Office alleges that Brown threatened there would be close review of agency programs if he is fined $250 and ordered to pay $7000 in firefighting costs.

The Post and Courier says the complaint alleges that a half dozen officials refused to allow officers to give Brown a ticket and the Bush administration ordered the matter dropped.

The complaint was filed by Jack Gregory, special agent in charge of the Forest Service's southern region, and South Carolina patrol Captain John Andy Sadler.

Brown says he never made any threats.

• The State newspaper, Columbia, S.C.
• WCNC TV, Charlotte, NC