EDITORIAL: The RI Legislature Is the One Place that Should Not Be Exempt From an Inspector General
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL: The RI Legislature Is the One Place that Should Not Be Exempt From an Inspector General
Speaker of the House Chris Blazejewski does not seem to know the history of the Rhode Island legislature, or he chooses to ignore it.
He insists on exempting the General Assembly from oversight by the inspector general's office, a measure that is making its way through the legislature.
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In the past 20 years, three of his predecessors in the Speaker’s office have left office under a cloud of controversy, and that is just the beginning of the story.
In 2002, John Harwood was forced to resign as Speaker after a state employee claimed she was forced to perform oral sex, and according to the Providence Journal, to drop the claims, the state quietly paid Collins $75,000. The settlement was finalized after the woman agreed to redact the phrase "sexual harassment" from her court filing. She was also given a newly created state job at Rhode Island College, though it was short-lived.
The Rhode Island State Police and FBI raided and sealed off the State House office of Speaker of the House Gordon Fox on March 21, 2014 — marking the first time an office in the building has ever been raided.
Fox pled guilty to 3 criminal counts on March 3, 2015 — accepting a bribe, wire fraud, and filing a false tax return. The plea deal reached with the US Attorney's office called for 3 years in federal prison.
Of course, Speaker Nick Mattiello was defeated in reelection in 2020 after multiple controversies, including at the Convention Center, funding Dr. Pedro, and so much more. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who defeated Mattiello, called his inner circle a “hodgepodge of corruption."
Blazejewski should remember the Mattiello years, as he served as the Deputy Majority Whip in that leadership team.
SEE MATTIELLO'S ADDITIONAL CONTROVERSIES BELOW
So those are the Speakers. Let’s look a little deeper at the legislature.
House Majority Leader Gerard Martineau was sentenced to more than three years in prison on federal corruption charges in 2008.
U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi said Martineau had used his office "in the most perverse way" but also had shown genuine remorse. She sentenced him to 37 months, in line with prosecutors' recommendation, and fined Martineau $100,000.
Martineau pleaded guilty to using his influence at the State House to benefit the CVS pharmacy chain and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island while doing hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal business with them.
Head over to the Finance Committee, where Chair Raymond Gallison had close to $1 million seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, days following his resignation from the General Assembly in 2016.
Gallison was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for orchestrating fraudulent and deceptive schemes to steal private money and to hide his misuse of public money.
He was ordered by Chief Judge William E. Smith to self-surrender to begin serving his term of imprisonment by July 10, 2017.
Gallison was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and do 100 hours of community service upon completion of his prison sentence.
Gallison pleaded guilty on March 9, 2017, to four counts of mail fraud; one count of wire fraud; one count of aggravated identity theft; one count of aiding the filing of a false tax document; and two counts of filing a false tax return.
Shall we continue…
John Carnevale, who represented District 13 in the House, was arrested in 2004 by the North Kingstown Police for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife. It marked the third time in five years that he had been arrested, and the third time the charges were either dismissed or he was found not guilty.
Carnevale was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first- and second-degree sexual assault, as well as one count of assault with the intent to commit sexual assault. According to multiple press reports, his alleged victim claimed Carnevale arrived at her house intoxicated, pulled her down on a mattress, and attempted to rape her, resulting in a struggle, and that when she resisted, Carnevale masturbated in front of her and forced her face up to his genitalia.
She also alleged that after he finished, Carnevale threw a $20 bill down and told her to "take her kid out to eat." DNA evidence collected from the victim's pajamas matched a sample provided by Carnevale, according to the Johnston Police Department.
Carnevale pleaded not guilty to the charges and refused calls to resign his House seat.
On January 1, 2012, his accuser, a 46-year-old mother of two, died, according to an autopsy by the Rhode Island state medical examiner. The charges were dropped.
In 2018, he pleaded guilty to perjury charges related to another crime.
Representative Dan Gordon, a Republican, had his problems. This editorial would have to be twice as long. He resigned from office.
State Representative Joseph S. Almeida was arrested and charged on February 10, 2015, for allegedly misappropriating $6,122.03 in campaign contributions for his personal use. Following his arrest, he resigned his position as House Democratic Whip, but remains a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
In 2014, then-Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced "that Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel sentenced former state representative Leonidis Medina, (age 50) of Providence, to 20 years with three years incarceration and the balance of 17 years suspended with probation. Medina was found guilty by a jury on June 2, 2014, of one count of unlawful appropriation of $28,035.42. Justice Vogel ordered Medina to pay full restitution in the amount of $500 per month upon release from the ACI. Medina, who was out on bail pending sentencing, was remanded to the ACI immediately."
And there are more, but we are running out of pixels.
Now, the inspector general would focus primarily on financial crimes rather than criminal activity.
Let’s remind everyone that for more than a decade, the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, which oversaw more than $500 million of spending during that period, NEVER MET. Not once. Thus, the public has no idea what was spent.
There have been other allegations of sexual harassment, improper spending, and misuse of staff resources. No action was ever taken.
Blazejewski likes to say “99.5% of all spending will be covered” by his version of the Inspector General's law, but maybe it is the General Assembly’s unfettered 0.5% that needs the most oversight.
The record (or the criminal records) speaks for itself.
Controversies Piling Up for Mattiello - January, 2020
Rhode Island State Police Investigation
As GoLocal first reported, the Rhode Island State Police are now conducting an investigation relating to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and the attempt by Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello to demand an audit.
GoLocal reported Friday morning that the State Police had launched a formal investigation into actions by Mattiello relating to what has been described as retribution against the Convention Center Authority.
The alleged retribution is linked to the Authority taking disciplinary action against Mattiello's long-time friend James Demers — the Head of Security at the Convention Center, who has now been dismissed by the Convention Center's management company ASM Global.
In a letter sent to James Manni, Superintendent of the State Police, signed by the Chair of the Convention Center Authority Board Bernie Buonanno and James McCarville, the Executive Director, they wrote in part, “Given that we are already subject to an annual financial audit which is posted to our website and provided to the Governor, House of Representatives, Senate, Auditor General, among others, and that this most recent audit request was issued and then rescinded, the Convention Center Authority requests a formal investigation by the State Police into the nexus of this request, the motivation behind it and if any laws were broken in the process.”
On Thursday, the Convention Center Authority had deemed the request for the audit to be illegal and had denied the demand.
By the end of Thursday, Mattiello had ordered the audit demand to be rescinded.
Manni confirmed Friday evening he has received the Convention Center's request.
Mattiello in a statement to GoLocal stated, “It’s a baseless request. Obviously the Convention Center Authority does not want anyone looking at its financial records. The taxpayers were responsible for $28.4 million in support for the Convention Center in 2019 and $255 million in the last ten years. Why is the Authority so opposed to having a performance audit done?”
PHOTO: GoLocal File Photo
Jeff Britt's Trial Set to Begin
The State's case against former Mattiello political advisor Jeff Britt is scheduled to begin on March 10, 2020.
Britt's attorney Robert Corrente said:
Mr. Britt is disappointed in [the] indictment, but, at the same time, he is anxious to clear his name at public trial.
We think it will become apparent that these charges should not have been brought -- and certainly not against Mr. Britt. Obviously, in the sometimes sordid history of Rhode Island politics, participating with others in raising $2100 for a campaign mailer, three years ago, is a pretty underwhelming offense. That's probably why the Board of Elections closed its investigation into the matter in April 2018, with just a warning to the Mattiello campaign. It certainly does not justify the State's overcharging this petty episode as money laundering when -- at most -- it might be a misdemeanor under Rhode Island law.
Worse, today's indictment unfairly singles out Mr. Britt, a contractor to the Mattiello campaign. We believe that the evidence at trial will leave Rhode Islanders scratching their heads about who did and who did not get charged, and will show that Mr. Britt was used by the Mattiello campaign as a fall guy. We are confident that the jury will see the set-up for what it is, once they hear the testimony from everyone involved."
Lawsuit by Filippi
Rhode Island House Republican Leader Blake Filippi filed a lawsuit in Rhode Island Superior Court that calls the audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center and the actions of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services illegal.
The audit was ordered by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS) — a committee controlled by Mattiello and has not met in years.
The audit was ordered by Mattiello’s office after the Convention Center placed head of security James Demers on administrative leave. Demers is close personal friends with Mattiello. Demers’ co-worker is alleging that he harassed and stalked her.
The Filippi suit "seeks a declaration that Defendant Montanaro and Defendant Mattiello have unlawfully assumed the powers of JCLS …”
The suit also names Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi, and Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere —all serve on JCLS, and have de facto, surrendered authority to Mattiello.
While the issue of the audit is now moot as Mattiello withdrew the demand, the issue of the JCLS is yet to be litigated.
Calls for JCLS Meetings
When asked if the Joint Committee Legislative Services (JCLS) needs to meet -- after House Minority Blake Filippi pointed out has never met during his time in office, and has faced significant controversy this week, House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi offered the following.
"If there's a need, yes," he said on Thursday, after repeatedly refusing to answer questions.
And is there a need for a meeting?
"Not at the present time," said Shekarchi. "No one's asked for one."
Raimondo Condemns Mattiello
"It’s clear that he didn’t follow the rules. The rules are there to be followed. He went out of his way to order an audit without following the rules. That’s a problem,” Governor Gina Raimondo told WPRI of Mattiello.
“If he did anything criminal, we’ll let the state police figure that out.”
RI Dem Women’s Caucus Calls Out "Abuse and Corruption”
The Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus on Monday condemned what it says is the "abuse and corruption" surrounding the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority controversy -- and the "misogyny and moral ambiguity" of current state democratic party leadership.
GoLocalProv.com exclusively secured a copy of a letter by Amanda Marzullo Wilmouth, the Assistant General Manager of the Rhode Island Convention Center that alleges years of verbal and mental abuse by fellow Convention Center executive James Demers, a close friend of Speaker House of Nicholas Mattiello.
Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion said that the recent announcement by Auditor General Dennis Hoyle that the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS) authorized an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center -- without meeting -- could be in violation of state law.
The Rhode Island State Police have launched a formal investigation into actions by Mattiello ordering the audit, relating to what has been described as retribution against Convention Center Authority.
Top Female Exec at RI Convention Center Says Mattiello Associate Demers Would “Ruin My Life”
GoLocal secured a copy of a letter by Amanda Marzullo Wilmouth, the Assistant General Manager of the Rhode Island Convention Center that alleges years of verbal and mental abuse by fellow Convention Center executive James Demers.
Demers, a retired Rhode Island State Trooper, is a close associate of Speaker of the House Nicolas Mattiello, who has intervened with Convention Center officials on Demers' behalf. Demers, Mattiello and State House attorney John C. Manni have all been close friends for years. SEE HERE
In the four-page letter, Wilmouth cites multiple allegations of abuse by Demers, “I have fear in working Jim and knowing that if anything goes wrong, or there is a disagreement, he would become verbally abusive and threatening and it has created a deep anxiety and stress in me.”
Mold Clean Up Company
Single Source — the cleanup company hired to remove the reported mold in the State House by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS) has strong ties to both Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello and Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi.
As GoLocal broke on Monday night, State House records were being dumped, and the Rhode Island State Police were alerted.
Single Source is run by Jack Pomeranz and his family. Jack Pomeranz alone has given $1,500 to Mattiello and $900 to Shekarchi -- amounting to nearly a third of his political donations since 2005. According to the company's website, "Jack Pomeranz continues to share his disaster restoration industry expertise in the role of Single Source Executive Vice President of Business Development."
In addition, Pomeranz is engaged to Mattiello’s former administrative staffer, who is now assistant to Shekarchi. She, too, is a donor to Mattiello -- having donated $350 to her former boss.
She earns $83,995.86 annually according to state records.
Pomeranz is close personal friends with JCLS Executive Director Frank Montanaro.
JCLS Dumpster Controversy
GoLocal first reported the dumpster controversy tied to the JCLS cleanup controversy.
On Monday night, GoLocal captured two State Police vehicles on the State House grounds.
Last week, the Rhode Island Convention Authority requested that the Rhode Island State Police investigate actions by Speaker Nick Mattiello against the Authority.
Late on Monday night Mattiello's spokesman Larry Berman issued the following statement, "An employee in the JCLS office discovered black mold under her desk last week, and she was moved into another office. A steam leak was determined to be the cause of the mold. The JCLS office was evacuated today, the carpet was ripped out, and furniture and partitions contaminated by the mold were thrown out. All the employees were relocated while the repair work is being undertaken. The Department of Administration, which is in charge of the building maintenance, is supervising the project and is coordinating the effort.”
Democratic Reps Call for Caucus for Mattiello to Explain “Dark Cloud” Hanging Over State House
Five Rhode Island Democratic State Representatives are calling for a caucus for Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello to explain the "dark cloud" hanging over the State House.
As GoLocalProv.com reported last week, the Rhode Island State Police are looking into actions by Mattiello’s office, in its effort to influence and minimize disciplinary actions by the Rhode Island Convention Center and its management group against James Demers.
The representatives calling for a caucus for an explanation from Mattiello include Teresa Tanzi, Kathleen Fogarty, Moira Walsh, John Lombardi, and Raymond Hull.
“For those of us who have been on the receiving end of the Speaker’s bullying, we empathize with the Convention Center Board and with our Republican colleagues. This is not how a democracy is supposed to operate,” said Walsh.
“We are calling for a caucus at which the Speaker can explain the dark cloud that hangs over the House. If he can’t adequately explain his actions, then it is time for new leadership. As elected members of the House, we cannot stand by and allow the public’s trust in this institution to further deteriorate,” said Lombardi.
Mattiello's office said there are "no plans" for a caucus.
“Speaker Mattiello has the support of the vast majority of the members of the Democratic Caucus," said spokesperson Larry Berman. "These five members have not been supportive of the Speaker, so this statement from them is no surprise. There are no plans to hold a caucus.”
