Rep. Carson Calls for the Release of State Police 38 Studios Docs

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Chair of the Tourism Commission, Rep. Lauren H. Carson is calling upon Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and the State Police to release documents related to the state’s four-year investigation into the 38 Studios deal, adding her voice to a growing list of state leaders seeking transparency for the probe that ended this summer without criminal charges.

A petition has been launched calling on the Governor Gina Raimondo to release the documents. She oversees the State Police. The petition received 500 signators in the first day.

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Tom Dickinson, who served in at leadership role in the Attorney General’s Office under the leadership of Jeff Pine, has raised concerns about the Attorney General and State Police’s claim that the criminal investigation of wrong doing is “over” after four years, but continues to be open.

“Another reason offered (by the State Police) for withholding the records is the claim that the investigation remains open.  We will appeal this determination within the Department of Public Safety, and if necessary, we’ll go to Superior Court to get public access to these records,” said Dickinson.

“A weekend media report indicated that Rhode Island taxpayers have been left on the hook for more than $50 million as a result of the 38 Studios deal. Especially with a cost that high, there’s no question in my mind that the public deserves to know the details of the investigation and be able to see why no charges have been filed,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport). “The public demands and deserves transparency from its state government, and anything less is damaging to its credibility and the public’s trust in it. I, too, want to know what was discovered through this four-year-long investigation, and I ask the attorney general and the State Police to release its findings and records.”

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and State Police Supt. Col. Steven G. O’Donnell (now "retired") announced this summer that, although the investigation will remain open, it is now inactive and no criminal charges are being filed in relation to the state’s 2010 investment of $75 million for loan guarantees to Curt Schilling’s video game development company, which moved to Rhode Island in 2011 and swiftly went bankrupt. The attorney general has declined to release records related to the lengthy investigation. Kilmartin while a member of the legislator voted for the 38 Studios funding scheme and served in the leadership with Speaker Gordon Fox -- who now serves in Federal Prison on corruption charges.

Carson joins House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello; the leaders of Common Cause RI, the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters and many other state, local and organizational leaders in Rhode Island in asking that the records be released.

Related Articles

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• NEW: RI Commerce Corp Votes on 38 Studios Litigation, Refuses to Disclose Details
• GOP House Caucus Calls on House Oversight to Subpoena 38 Studios Investigation Records UPDATED
• (UPDATED) AG and State Police Delay Response to Request for 38 Studios Docs
• Bob Whitcomb’s Digital Diary: 38 Studios is More Sloth and Stupidity than Corruption
• You Deserve To Know The 38 Studios Story, MINDSETTER™ Mike Stenhouse
• ABC’s “In the Arena” Takes on the Demands to Release 38 Studios’ Records
• 38 Studios: SEC Charges RI Commerce Corp, Wells Fargo with Fraud - RI Reacts
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• AG: No Indictments in Rhode Island State Police 38 Studios Investigation
• INFOGRAPHIC: Who Supports Releasing 38 Studios Records and Who Opposes
• Former Assistant Attorney General Hired by GoLocalProv to Secure Release of 38 Studios Documents
• FBI Releases Clinton Investigation Notes - See Documents; Will RI Follow on 38 Studios
• RI Recovers $25.6 Million in 38 Studios Suits from Wells Fargo and Barclays, SEC Case Continues
• RI State Police Fail to Comply with GoLocal’s 38 Studios Request, Media Company to Appeal
• Schilling, 38 Studios Execs Agree to $2.5 Million Settlement with State of RI
• Common Cause, League of Women Voters, ACLU Call on Kilmartin to Release 38 Studios Records
• Speaker Mattiello Calls for AG and RI State Police to Release 38 Studios Records
• UPDATED: 20 Top RI Leaders Call for Kilmartin to Release 38 Studios Documents
• Mayors Fung, Avedisian and Councilman Call for Release of 38 Studios Investigation Records
• Growing Chorus Say Kilmartin is Wrong - 38 Studios Docs Can Be Released
• EDITORIAL: Losing $75 Million Was Bad, No Justice in 38 Studios is Worse for RI
• Analysis: Bizarre Friday Afternoon 38 Studios Press Conference Will Infuriate RIers UPDATED
• NEW: SEC Charges RI Commerce Corp, Wells Fargo with Fraud in 38 Studios

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