FBI agents aren't known for heaping praise on elected officials, especially in the Mahoning Valley, so the willngness of John Kane, resident agent in charge of the Boardman office, to publicly recognize Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien is noteworthy.

Kane not only praised O'Brien's willingness to harshly criticize former acting city engineer David Robison's corrupt activities, but he also revealed that the mayor had been pressured not to submit a formal statement to federal Judge Solomon Oliver.

O'Brien refused to succumb to the pressure and delivered a hard-hitting critique of Robison.

Kane's public recognition of the mayor raises this question: Was there more to it than just kind words?

The answer: We should all hope so. Only the most naive Valley resident would believe that Robison was acting alone in the bribery scheme. Contractors paid bribes for city contracts.

FBI Agent Kane in his public comments may have been signaling that the agency has other targets in its crosshairs.

Stay tuned.