Lawyers for Former Connecticut Governor Seek Dismissal of Campaign Charges

By Richard Weizel

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Attorneys for former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who resigned a decade ago due to corruption charges, are seeking to have new campaign finance violation allegations against him dismissed on the grounds of their unconstitutionality.

Rowland was indicted in April on seven charges, including conspiracy and falsifying records, related to efforts to conceal payments from two congressional campaigns he consulted for in 2009 and 2012. The 57-year-old Republican has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His legal team argues that the campaign finance restrictions referenced by prosecutors are unconstitutional, particularly following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that eliminated limits on individual contributions in an election cycle. This ruling permits donors to contribute to as many political candidates, parties, and committees as they choose.

Rowland’s trial is scheduled to commence in August. His lawyers have also requested that jurors be prohibited from learning about his previous conviction, which resulted in his resignation from office in 2004 and a ten-month prison sentence.

The case against Rowland includes former Republican candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley and her husband, Brian Foley, who prosecutors allege made a $35,000 illegal payment to Rowland for a consulting contract. It is claimed that the contract was for work that did not actually exist at nursing homes operated by Brian Foley, with payments to Rowland considered illegal contributions to his wife’s campaign.

The couple has entered guilty pleas to conspiracy charges.

Rowland served as the Governor of Connecticut from 1995 until 2004 when he admitted to accepting gifts from individuals who had secured lucrative state contracts.