But the Governor did it?
March 29, 2005
Connecticut calls itself the Land of Steady Habits. In recent years, those habits have evolved to graft among its public officials. Why just the other day, former Governor John G. Rowland was sentenced to federal prison for a brief stretch. He couldn't keep distinct in his mind his official duties and gorging himself at the public trough.
After his guilty plea and resignation from office, he kept on grabbing cash. He raked in about $15,000 a month as a consultant to private industry on, of all things, government. Now the Connecticut General Assembly wants to take a look at why felons are hired as consultants. Oink, Oink, Oink
Now comes news that a prosecutor may not have been able to avoid all the fun. Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney David Newman of New Haven is under the microscope, according to the Chief State's Attorney's Office. Suspicions that all is not well in the historic Elm Street courthouse. According to the New Haven Register, questions have arisen about whether Mr. Newman regards himself as a legitimate beneficiary of charitable contributions intended to resolve minor offenses. Charity for a Day
Newman has hired criminal defense lawyer Hugh Keefe, who tried to waive off the scandal as an "internal employment matter." Well, that's one spin. But Keefe is known for his defense of police officers in claims arising under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 and for defending those accused of crimes. He's no employment lawyer.I Want Mine, Too
This comes on the heels of a report that a former prosecutor was arrested leaving the 50th birthday party of Chief States Attorney Christopher Morano. The former lawman was drunk, was carrying a little reefer, and was armed. He's now asking the court for a diversionary program that would permit the record of his arrest to be erased after a brief period of probation.
Wow. I guess there's no place like home for white collar crime, and, if you know the right people it seems that just about anything is possible.