Moore blasts fed's probe of Cuba trip

Cannes, France -- Filmmaker Michael Moore issued a scathing response to the the U.S. Treasury Department's investigation of his possible violations of a travel ban to Cuba.

Moore was notified earlier this month that the Treasury Department was investigating a trip he and several workers, ailing from working at Ground Zero in New York, made to Cuba as part of a segment for his new documentary, "Sicko," an examination of the nation's health care system and insurance industry, Variety reported Friday.

The group went to Cuba so the workers, sickened from dust and fumes from their work after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, could receive treatment.

Moore, attending the Cannes Film Festival where his film will debut, posted his response to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on the liberal Web site dailykos.com.

The federal probe is "the latest example of the Bush Administration abusing the federal government for raw, crass, political purposes," Moore wrote to Paulson. Meanwhile, Ground Zero workers "have been left to fend for themselves, without coverage and without care."

The Oscar-winning filmmaker noted the administration was aware of the trip since October, when he submitted paperwork seeking approval to go to Cuba, but did nothing until the film's pending debut.

Copyright 2007 United Press International.