Greene was suspended for 30 days last week by PHA's five-member board pending an internal investigation into sexual-harassment claims filed by Helm and three other women, who settled their cases since 2004 for $98,000, $200,000, and $350,000. He is currently undergoing medical care for stress an at undisclosed location out of state.
Elliott said Helm had refused to sign any gag order to keep the details of her complaint quiet. "That's how they covered up the other settlements," he said.
Elliott also said that Helm would cooperate with federal prosecutors, the FBI, and auditors from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, all of whom are now investigating the Housing Authority, sources say.
A spokeswoman for PHA sharply rejected Elliott's comments about Helm's claim.
"PHA is not responding to these extortionate demands," Nichole Tillman said.
A team of officials from Housing and Urban Development is scheduled to arrive Tuesday to begin a wide-ranging review of PHA's operations.
Apart from that review, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia last week subpoenaed a broad array of documents from PHA - including information about all four sexual-harassment cases and details on several PHA-related nonprofits, including Tenant Support Services Inc., which collected up to $5,000 from contractors for a celebration of Greene's 10th year at the agency.
The subpoena also demands records from the Pennsylvania Institute for Affordable Housing Professionals (PIAHP), which collected $2.12 weekly payroll contributions from about 300 nonunion employees to stage various management retreats.
