Agencies investigate canceled inaugural ball

The ball was promoted as a fundraiser for injured veterans

NBC Video: Politics

The secret life of drones
Dec. 4: Rachel Maddow is joined by Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., Princeton professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof to talk about the use of CIA drones in Pakistan.

Secretary Clinton… in many languages

Aetna reportedly will raise prices

Duck and coverage

Uganda be kidding me…

Slideshow

First 100 days
Striking images from President Barack Obama’s jam-packed first 100 days in office.

more photos

INTERACTIVE

Get political at Newsvine
Read, rate and discuss the latest news.

updated 6:59 p.m. ET Feb. 8, 2009

WASHINGTON - Federal officials and the Washington, D.C., attorney general were investigating the promoter of a canceled inaugural ball.

The Washington Post reported that Darryl Dante Hayes advertised the Veterans Presidential Inaugural Ball as a fundraiser for injured veterans where President Barack Obama would appear.

But the ball was canceled and a St. Regis Hotel official says a $50,000 check for a security deposit bounced.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Officials want to know whether Hayes used Obama's name and sympathy for veterans groups to raise money and whether he actually intended to hold a ball.

The 52-year-old said he canceled the ball because most of his corporate sponsors pulled their support. He said he never meant to mislead donors and intends to give their money back.