Steve Hughes reports in the Albany Times Union that as the newspaper posted a story online March 30 that Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin's top aide, Richard W. Crist, was under investigation by the FBI and state attorney general's office, he was placed on unpaid administrative leave. Crist is the county’s operations director, but Rensselaer County Attorney Carl J. Kempf III said Crist’s duties now will be handled by others. "Based on available information, the reported investigation is unrelated to county government operations and there is no allegation of any wrongdoing by any other county employee or official," Kempf said. Law enforcement officials are investigating Crist's past campaign work. Crist and McLaughlin refused any comment about the investigation. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.