Bush Supporter Investigated for Obama Inaugural Fraud

The day before it was to take place, the ball was canceled with no explanation, although some tickets had been sold. The $50,000 check Hayes gave the St. Regis for a security deposit bounced, a hotel official said. The hotel and volunteers said they repeatedly tried to reach Hayes by phone and e-mail but never got a response.

The veterans ball is the only one of 10 official and 45 unofficial inaugural balls under investigation. The U.S. attorney's office, Secret Service and D.C. attorney general's office are looking into whether Hayes committed financial fraud, officials at the agencies said.

Hayes is a longtime Republican who ran an inaugural ball for George W. Bush in 2001. This year, he advertised his veterans ball on area radio stations and on the website of the Congressional Education Foundation for Public Policy, which he runs.