An indictment last summer against electrical contractor Donald "Gus" Dougherty, a longtime friend but no relation to the union leader, alleged that Gus Dougherty had provided sweetheart deals for John Dougherty on a Wildwood condo and on renovations to his Philadelphia rowhouse.

Seeking to undercut the issue yesterday, John Dougherty's lawyer, Henry Hockeimer, sent an e-mail to reporters stating:

"I have been assured on numerous occasions by key people within the U.S. Attorney's Office - and as recently as a few weeks ago - that John Dougherty has never been, nor is he currently, the target of any investigation."

But "target" is a carefully defined term among federal prosecutors. It refers to a person already linked to a crime by substantial evidence, according to the U.S. Attorneys Manual.

When Hockeimer was asked yesterday if Dougherty has been the subject of a federal investigation, Hockeimer replied: "The statement I issued is the only comment I will make. I'm not going beyond that."

A reporter asked John Dougherty yesterday if he's been the subject of a federal probe, and the union leader bristled with indignation.

"No, I'm not a target of any investigation," Dougherty said.

"No, I don't know if I'm anything other than a candidate for the First Senatorial [District]. You talk to my lawyer, my lawyer answered the legal questions. I say, let's stay focused on the campaign."

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Patty Hartman, said, "We don't comment on the existence or non-existence of any investigation." *