A US Senate committee has asked the New Jersey Symphony to turn over all records concerning a sale of 30 rare instruments for $17 million. The seller – Herb Axelrod – has been arrested for tax fraud, and the Senate is investigating abuse of charitable deductions. Meanwhile Axelrod’s lawyer is denying any wrongdoing. “Herb Axelrod didn’t cheat anybody. The fact is, he hasn’t taken a dime in charitable deductions with respect to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. All the good he has done with respect to these violins has been denigrated unfairly.”