The chief of the Suffolk district attorney's Government Corruption Bureau is the target of a federal investigation, Newsday sources say.

Newsday sources say investigators want to know if Christopher McPartland lied, or encouraged others to lie, about former Chief James Burke's alleged assault on Christopher Loeb - who was accused of stealing Burke's bag from his department SUV.

McPartland joined the Suffolk District Attorney's Office in 1991. For more than 10 years, he worked closely with DA Tom Spota and Burke, who was then heading up the district attorney's detective squad before becoming chief.

Burke was denied bail during a court appearance Wednesday. His trial begins in late March.

McPartland has not been charged at this time.