UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A letter accusing certain Oneida County legislators of blackmail, extortion and sweetheart deals has become a hot potato; no one, including the legislator whose signature appears at the end of the letter, will admit to writing it or delivering it.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara says his office's investigation into the letter is two pronged: he will determine whether the allegations are true, and if they are not, he must investigate whether or not the writer intentionally filled the letter with malicious lies aimed at harassing the legislators accused in it. If that's the case, the writer, or anyone involved in the letter's distribution, could be criminally culpable.

"I think we'd have to look at all those people as potentially being criminally liable," said McNamara.

"They're not lies and they're not malicious," says Legislator Bill Hendricks, whose signature appears at the end of the letter. Still, Hendricks will not admit to writing it. "The truth will come to the surface," he added.

The letter was hand-delivered to WKTV on Wednesday by former local attorney Robert Barry.

When asked about that on Friday, Barry denied bringing the letter to WKTV, or anywhere else - including the Oneida County Board of Legislators. Board Clerk Susan Crabtree on Friday said that Barry handed the letter to her.