Questions Remaining In Donovan FBI Probe; Still No Price For Twardy Report

With less than six weeks before the Democratic primary, questions remain over the fallout of a federal investigation into the Congressional campaign of House Speaker Christopher Donovan.

While a campaign-paid report found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of 5th District candidate, Donovan’s opponents are certain to raise the issue in the weeks leading up to the August 14 primary. Top state union leaders recently reinforced their support at a rally for Donovan, but the reaction of rank-and-file Democrats will not be known until the votes are counted on primary night.

As the FBI’s investigation continues, at least four key players in the probe refused to cooperate with former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy in the month-long investigation. Both Donovan and Twardy have refused to say how much the probe would cost – a key issue at a time when Donovan needs every penny to pour into direct mail, staff salaries, and get-out-the-vote efforts in the battle to win the primary.

Two attorneys from well-known firms in the Greater Hartford area say that the so-called Twardy Report could cost at least $250,000 – based on the rates for nine employees at the prestigious firm of Day Pitney who worked on the report over the course of a month.

Michael Goldfarb, an attorney at Murtha Cullina, mentioned that total during a taped segment of “The Real Story’’ with host Laurie Perez that airs Sunday morning on FOX CT. Goldfarb generated the estimate by assuming that the employees were working 40 hours per week during the tight timeframe of four weeks that it took to compile the report.

In addition, the Blum Shapiro firm was hired for forensic accounting work on campaign contributions and expenses that were included in an appendix to Twardy’s report.

Donovan has repeatedly said he does not know the cost, and had little comment regarding Goldfarb’s estimate of $250,000.

“I haven’t heard anything like that,’’ Donovan said Friday. “I don’t know where he came up with that number. We haven’t received the bill yet for it.”

Twardy himself told reporters this week that he had not added up the hours of the employees working on the report and said flatly that he did not know the cost.

But John Droney, a longtime partner in the firm of Levy & Droney in Farmington, said the final cost could be “easily more’’ than $250,000 because of the amount of work completed.

“I can’t speak for Twardy and Day Pitney,’’ said Droney. “If it was my office and I had 10 people working on the file, I would know to the penny how much it is to date.’’

Both Goldfarb and Droney said that Twardy must charge the full price for the legal work because anything below the full price would be considered an illegal campaign contribution.

“Twardy knows he’s got to charge the full amount,’’ Droney said. “Twardy’s a super smart guy.’’

Aside from his legal work, Droney is a veteran Democratic activist who served as the state party chairman. He has not endorsed any candidate in the race as Donovan battles against former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Cheshire and Dan Roberti of Kent. Droney said that Donovan needs to provide far more answers than he has since his campaign finance director, Robert Braddock Jr., was arrested on May 30 and charged with conspiring to conceal the source of campaign funds.

“I think he ought to have a press conference and answer every question they throw at him,’’ Droney said of Donovan. “I think he’s got to clear the air. He’s got to stand up and answer the questions. I don’t understand it. If I wanted to win both the primary and the general election, I’d answer the questions.’’

When asked if Donovan can still win the primary as the FBI investigation continues, Droney responded, “I don’t know how dark the cloud is over him. … I’m assuming that Chris did nothing wrong. But he had these bums working for him, and he’s going to pay a price one way or another. I hope it’s not his election.’’

Speaking in his hometown of Meriden on Thursday evening, Donovan was asked by reporters about the report’s thoroughness and credibility.

“He [Twardy] felt comfortable with who he talked to to say that I did nothing wrong, and now I’m ready to move on with my campaign,” Donovan said. “He had full rein to ask questions.”

Donovan also declined to talk about the refusal of his top House Democratic lawyer, Laura Jordan, to cooperate with Twardy’s efforts. Jordan is a state employee with the title of “special counsel’’ who is paid $150,000 per year.

Donovan also refused to talk about meeting for breakfast in the fall of 2011 with two members of the roll-your-own cigarette industry. The meeting, mentioned in Twardy’s report, was planned by Ray Soucy, a longtime state employee who has been identified as a central co-conspirator in a scheme to funnel thousands of dollars into Donovan’s campaign from hidden donors. The donations were tied to an attempt to block legislation that would provide increased taxes on roll-your-own cigarettes. The bill initially died from inaction during the regular legislative session this year but was approved by lawmakers in a special session after Braddock’s arrest. Soucy has not been charged in the case.

“It was just a meeting we had with some folks,’’ Donovan said of the breakfast, “and that’s all I’m going to say about that right now.”

Courant staff writer Wes Duplantier contributed to this report.