Gerry Shih/The Bay Citizen

Updated Oct. 12, 2011 at 5:54 p.m.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced Wednesday that he has opened a criminal investigation into suspect political contributions made in September to interim Mayor Ed Lee's election campaign by GO Lorrie's, a shuttle company at San Francisco International Airport.

"We have opened a criminal investigation into this matter," Gascon said in a brief statement. "It is premature to form opinions or rush to judgment until an investigation is complete.”

Tony Winnicker, a spokesman for Lee's campaign, said in an email that the mayor had returned 23 contributions associated with GO Lorrie's.

"Last week, at Mayor Lee’s direction, our campaign contacted the District Attorney to offer our full assistance in any investigation and that assistance will continue. Mayor Lee has zero tolerance for anyone who breaks the law and demands 100% compliance from his campaign and anyone who supports it," Winnicker wrote.

The investigation comes less than a week after The Bay Citizen first reported the donations. GO Lorrie's employees acknowledged in interviews that they donated to Lee because they were pressured by company management and had been promised reimbursement.

Following the report, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, one of Lee's main challengers in the mayoral race, called on local, state and federal authorities to open criminal investigations into the GO Lorrie's, which has benefited from recent policy changes made by airport officials. 

The California Fair Political Practices Commission said last Wednesday that it would investigate the contributions in response to a query from The Bay Citizen prior to the article's publication.