A federal criminal grand jury is investigating ex-governor John G. Rowland’s consulting work and campaign activities, Courant columnist Kevin Rennie reported Monday in his Daily Ructions blog.
The existence of the probe was verified later Monday, as one person confirmed that he had been contacted by federal authorities and had provided information about consulting work that Rowland did for him.
Read Rennie’s blog post here.
At a time when Rowland had been providing what he said was volunteer help to Lisa Wilson-Foley’s 5th District congressional campaign — and was touting her candidacy on his afternoon talk-radio show — he also was being paid $30,000 from October through March under a $5,000-a-month consulting contract with an attorney for Brian Foley, who is CEO and president of Apple Rehab, a chain of 26 nursing and rehabilitation centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Brian Foley has said that Rowland’s consulting work was for Apple Rehab.
The federal investigation began after revelations of those business and campaign activities in April, Rennie reports.
Brian Foley confirmed Monday afternoon that he “had been contacted” more than a month ago by federal authorities, and had been asked to provide information “with regard to the Rowland contract.” He said that “I provided whatever they asked,” but said he didn’t want to go into any more detail because the request for the information said it had to do with a grand jury, “and they operate in secrecy” and did not want people talking about it. “I am frankly surprised that it became public” in Rennie’s blog, Foley said.
Foley said that to his knowledge neither his wife, nor her campaign organization, had been contacted by federal authorities
Wilson-Foley is one of four Republicans competing for the GOP nomination for the 5th District seat that Democrat Chris Murphy will vacate because he is running for the U.S. Senate. The other three contenders are: state Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-Goshen; Justin Bernier, and Mark Greenberg.
Greenberg also was a candidate for the GOP nomination in 2010. Greenberg has said that Rowland approached him back then and said he would help his campaign, but wanted to be paid as a consultant to Greenberg’s non-profit animal-rescue foundation.
Greenberg confirmed late Monday afternoon that he was contacted by federal authorities as a “factual witness,” and that he “provided the requested information,” said his campaign spokesman, Chris Cooper. Cooper also said Greenberg is “not in any way a arget of the investigation.” Cooper would not confirm or deny that Greenberg was asked about Rowland’s contact with his 2010 or his non-profit group, called the Simon Foundation.
Thomas Carson, spokesman for the office of the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, would neither confirm nor deny the existence of a grand jury investigation.
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55 Responses to Report: Federal Grand Jury Investigating Rowland’s Business Dealings And Campaign Activities
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Go Directly to Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200
umm..Do not collect $30,000. The Good Father was wise to distance himself from the show.
Looks like the Governor’s radio program is generating a little too much heat.
Shocked! ( That it took this long to get back into trouble…)
The Governor?? That was long before he became a crook! Now he’s just a plain crook!
And what evidence can you site that would prove that he is a crook. Is it because he is a Republican? You need to do better than that.
He is a Convicted Felon. Do not call him Governor. As part of his conviction, he can no longer run for office. Don’t be ignorant.
Who will be the first bad apple to turnover and go state’s evidence?
Apple turnover…Hmmmm My Fave
That is exactly the reason. The ex-Gov’s radio program is shining too bright a light on some of the cockroaches in Hartford. This is nothing but payback to either put a stop to the program or to get Rowland to dim his spotlight. The Courant does little reporting at the Capitol to try and keep them honest. That is why the situation is out of control in Conn. State Budget 1990 $3 billion. 2012- $20+ billion. Need more be said?
So it’s the Courant’s Fault? LOL
Hmm…wasn’t this the Governor that signed the 16 year Union deal that we are All Now paying for? I agree Cockroaches…
Rob: If the governor is found to have committed illegalities, then tried and convicted will that also be a result of the radio show’s popularity? Maybe the reason they are investigating the convicted felon who purports to be a “fair” radio show host is that he is actually an active criminal.
‘The Courant does little reporting at the Capitol to try and keep them honest’. Really? How about ‘None of the local media’? They don’t look into corruption/incompetence at the State level, and they sure as Hell don’t go into it at the Municipal level.
If any of the media outlets/bloggers/rabblerousers looked into how the City of Hartford was run, they would find a clusterfcuk of stupidity.
I can’t believe that no one has looked into the mismanagement of Hartford.
They are talking more about Rowland than they are about Donovan. Again is it because Rowland is a Republican? It is certainly the case with Donovan being a Democrat.
It is because he already is a Convicted Felon. As part of the court proceedings, they are allowed to consider his past convictions.
In fairness to the press (which they don’t often deserve), they have been beating the Donovan story as hard as they can, at the risk of making it a snoozefest. LWF & Co. have had a break for the last few weeks.
And what exactly is the charge? Before people convict him in the public media, can anyone exactly spell out the offense/specific statute citation? Ok, great, no one. But let’s convict him anyways. Another reason why mob mentality and Connectitax is no longer appealing.
it is spelled “Campaign Financing Fraud”… You have been schooled.
Again nit wit, answer citizenct’s question. Has he been charged with anything? The answer is no. He’s under investigation. What a sphincter wipe. Can’t read and comprehend.
BobW: Since Citizen’s question said “What is the Charge” you owe him/her/it an apology for calling it an idiot. Thanks…
P.S. Please don’t use Sphincter in a Rowland story, it’s an uncomfortable picture
Thanks Bob, you are correct: Jane the educator, symptomatic of today’s education system, never answered the question. But reading is not viewed as a critical skill in school for the general pop such as Jane.
Why did Citizen ask what is the charge, if there is No Charge yet? Read? LOL..How about learn to right.
There is no charge yet. Thus, the grand jury.
Exactly, but if I were Johnny I would not be making long term vacation plans.
once a crook, always a crook.
Are you talking about Donovan?
only 1 of them is a convicted who has served time in FEDERAL PRISON!
The real ? i have is who is the bigger crook Rowland or the current adm ? you have to figure in inflation of course. I say we fire everyone in state govt and start fresh with only people that have actually worked for a living and pay taxes.Never happen but one should be able to dream
Edith…Get me a beer and get out of my chair…the show is about to start. What a meathead !!!
For me, the real saddness results from the transformation of a once respected radio station – WTIC – to a platform for uniformly right wing talk show hosts and the willingness to give prominence to a disgraced former governor as if he were someone to guide all of us. Bob Steele is probably rolling in his grave contemplating the ex con who was given this pulpit to spew his distorted view of things.
Amen!
Dick: I agree, except remember, Fatso in the morning, Jim Vicevich, Rush, and The Father and the Felon are the best thing to happen to the Democratic Party in Decades!!! They are like a gift that keeps on Giving…when was the last Republican to win anything in Ct?
Yeah, isn’t that wonderful. One party rule. Who will be left to blame when our state is in poverty, with the exception of a handful of gated communities?
Yeah, Colin McInroe couldn’t make it so let’s dump on the people that do make it.
Old news, I tweeted back in Feb that the Feds were all over the place. Wiretap et al.
Problem is, Rigatoni Joe, you have no credibility. Now pardon me while I stroll through the lovely Blue Back Square.
What a Jew prick!
Joe Visconti said:
Old news, I tweeted back in Feb that the Feds were all over the place. Wiretap et al.
Yeah but Joe, in February they were investigating you.
The whole point of the article is that it isn’t always about Joe Visconti.
Just sayin’
If Greenberg’s claim has any truth to it then why did he not come forward in 2010 to expose this obviously illegal proposal? He would of had nothing to lose if he a.) really wanted nothing to do with the arrangement and b.) knew it was a blatant violation of law, by reporting it right away. Instead he hid it for whatever reason and continued his nonstop campaign for Congress. Something is wrong with this picture.
It’s quite simple. Come forward in 2010, when no deal was done, and it was “all just a big misunderstanding.” Once such a deal actually took place, NOW this offer carries some weight and credibility.
Although I know this is hard for the LWF fan club to understand.
This is what happens when you “buck” the public sector unions in Connecticut. They come after you tooth and claw. And Rowland is their poster child for attacks.
Frankly, the less I see of this thief the better I feel. He should spend a considerable amount of the rest of his life behind bars with no hope of release for all the crap he gave his constituents over the years. He’s scum for sure!
He will Soon…Does his old friend in the cell block still have Dibs?
I agree with Dick re: WTIC
I never did buy his jailhouse conversion to Christianity. It seemed very calculated and I’m sorry for Pastor Will, Pastor Joel and all the good people from New Life that he conned. He’s going to have a lot to answer for when he meets the Lord!
All of the leaks in the Rennie blog come from the Greenberg campaign. Once Greenberg was contacted it was sure to go to Rennie.
Mike Clark’s old buddies are doing him a favor by advancing this ficticious cause.
Visconti claims to have known it since the beginning. He told me that’s because Mike Clark told him.
LOL of COURSE it is the fault of the same public sector unions that Rowland got into bed with to negotiate that 17-year deal.
Can’t you come up with an original idea that would make some sense?
Amen, Moe. It is possible the Good Rev saw the handwriting on the wall?
He probably saw the wiretap in the Radio Booth and realized this was the right time “To pursue other career opportunities” as he put it.
Tough to make on the paltry state retirement huh Gov?
At least you have your medical.
I think the original plea deal for what, a year in prison? was way too favorable, look at Blagovitch for heaven’s sake, that was more like it. Most of John Rowland’s crimes went unpunished as did those of his inner circle. Look at the Enron deal alone. I’m fine with this investigation and let’s see where it leads. Hartford is still a swamp of corruption
Once a crook always a crook. Rowland is as sleazy as they come. Makes one wonder which of his pals got him his gig at “TIC. Can’t “TIC do better than a crook. And is this why Pastor Will left the show. Coincidence. Not in my book. And remember how Jim Vicevich defends this crook and won’t call Blumenthal a liar. Makes me wonder if Jim is a closet LIBERAL
Just all remember johnny rowland is smarter than all of us just ask him. He actually loves all the attention.Johnny roland hasn’t changed he just got a little smarter in fooling us. I Betcha.
You can take the boy outta’ Woddaburry, but you can’t take Woddaburry outta’ da boy.