PITTSBURGH — The FBI contacted members of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht's deadlocked jury to seek interviews on why the panel was unable to reach a verdict, prompting expressions of concern from the defense and two members of Congress.

A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday after the jury deadlocked over charges that Wecht used his former Allegheny County coroner's staff to benefit his private practice. A second trial is set to begin May 27, and prosecutors said Friday they will seek to retry Wecht on all 41 theft and fraud counts.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan's spokeswoman, Margaret Philbin, told a Pittsburgh newspaper that the FBI contacted jurors to set up appointments for a "post-verdict discussion" because they left the courthouse Tuesday before prosecutors could talk to them.

Philbin said in a statement that it is "commonplace" for prosecutors and investigating agencies such as the FBI to take part in such discussions after the verdict.

But defense attorney Jerry McDevitt called the action "inherently intimidating," and Wecht said potential jurors for a second trial might feel intimidated.

"Everybody has a little bit of baggage in life," Wecht said. "You got to be frightened to death the FBI is involved."

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said Friday in a statement that such contacts can have a "chilling effect" on future juries.