DEVELOPING: 38 Studios State Police Documents Released, Questions Remain
Friday, March 03, 2017
After months of legal wrangling and delays, the Rhode Island State Police release the interview notes of those interviewed -- more than 100 -- that were conducted as part of the criminal investigation of 38 Studios.
SEE BELOW THE INVESTIGATION DOCUMENT
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The documents unveil that many of the legislators who were interviewed claimed that the had no knowledge of the guarantee loan program legislation was intended to benefit 38 Studios. Two powerful legislators Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and House Finance Chair Steven Costantino admitted they knew the legislation was intended to benefit 38 Studios. The claimed they did not tell members to keep other states from competing to land Curt Schilling's gaming company.
Schilling said in his statement to State Police Officers that Costantino was "always trying to impress him." Moreover, Schilling told the State Police that he only found out only two weeks before the 38 Studios deal closed that his company would only receive $49 million rather than the full $75 million.
Also, he claims he was never asked for any bribes while his company did business in Rhode Island.
GoLocal filed a lawsuit against Governor Gina Raimondo, Public Safety, and the State Police to force the release of the documents.
A bizarre Friday afternoon of 4th of July weekend in 2016 press conference held by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and then-RI Public Safety Director and Superintendent of the RI State Police Steven O’Donnell announced that after more than 100 interviews and years of investigation the investigation was over, no charges would be filed and the case would be held open.
In October, GoLocal filed suit against Governor Gina Raimondo, the Head of Public Safety and the RI State Police requesting the release of the State Police records of interviews in the 38 Studios criminal investigation.
GoLocal’s lawsuit against Raimondo and others was set for hearing at the end of the month.
Raimondo petitioned the court to have the suit dismissed claiming she was not in possession of the documents.
On February 10, a press release issued by Raimondo's office said, "...Rhode Island State Police Colonel Ann Assumpico has directed her agency to review and release the non-grand jury documents in the agency's possession. Those documents will be released as soon as a review is complete."
She also claimed that she "will file a petition in Rhode Island Superior Court early next week to release the documents from the grand jury investigation."
GoLocal's attorney Tom Dickinson said about the Governor's decision, "It's certainly encouraging to hear that the Governor and the State Police now agree with GoLocalProv that the 38 Studios investigation materials are public records and that we don't have to wait for the court to rule on grand jury records. GoLocalProv requested investigative records -- not grand jury transcripts -- back last year in the first week of August. That's over six months ago.
Related Slideshow: RISP Investigative Report - 38 Studios
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