Former Cranston Councilwoman Says She Was Blackmailed to Resign — GOP Chair Calls for Investigation
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Former Democratic Cranston Councilwoman Aniece Germain says that she was blackmailed by Democratic Council President Jessica Marino to resign, after Germain had said that "politics" and addressing issues with her nonprofit Hope and Change for Haiti were the reasons she stepped down.
On Wednesday, Cranston Republican Party Chair John Colasante called for an "independent investigation by state or federal law enforcement officials into the extreme threatening and intimidating tactics used by Council President Marino" to get Germain to resign.
“The news reporting and statements made by the former councilwoman about her treatment by so-called friends and colleagues are alarming”, said Colasante, who ran for the Cranston City Council against Germain and lost in 2022. “She got railroaded into resigning with threats of public exposure over some clerical issues relating to a non-profit she ran for the benefit of the people in Haiti.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhen reached on Wednesday, Germain said she was unaware of the statement released by Colasante.
"I never talked to Colasante. I’m not commenting on whatever he has to say. I’m not sure if he just read what I said in the press and he’s trying to capitalize on it," said Germain. "I said my truth — what I experienced, I don’t think any councilperson should be experiencing."
"The truth is I was forced to resign. I could [have] gone on, but the council president said if I don’t resign, she will hold public hearings and that’s 'going to humiliate you and your children,'" said Germain. "I said OK, what did I do wrong? And then she was yelling at me. It was very disrespectful. I cried. It was very hurtful."
"Forced to Resign"
Germain maintains that the issue with Hope and Change for Haiti was a filing error, and that it had been addressed.
"I didn’t do anything wrong. We filed everything and we didn’t know it didn’t go through until we received a letter. and since then we have suspended our [activities]. We took a pause. We lost the ability to send [donors] a tax-exempt letter and we’re working on it," said Germain. "We never asked anyone for money since we realized we cannot give that letter. We filed, and we don’t know what happened and why it didn’t go through. And you tell me if I don’t resign you’re going to host public hearings?"
"[Marino] said if I don’t resign, I have no choice but to hold public hearings," said Germain.
When asked if she thought this was blackmail, Germains said “yes" -- but that she does not plan to call for an investigation at this time
"I just want peace and to focus on my children now, and solving the [nonprofit] issue. We have a duty to help those kids [in Haiti], to help them with tuition to go to school, with the situation in Haiti getting dire," said Germain.
"I worked so hard to get where I am today. I would never do something to jeopardize that. I have other ambitions beyond local politics. Do you think I would do something to jeopardize that? They wanted me out. This issue has existed since 2022 — but they didn’t use it in 2022. Since January, there’s been an internal fight to see how to get me out," said Germain. "It’s been since I got into the position in 2020."
GOP Chair on Record
“Law enforcement should review the threats and tactics used by Marino to up-end the Ward 2 voter choice to represent them," said Colasante. "The council president is acting like the head of an organized crime family under the guise of good government leadership. I urge Aniece Germain to pursue these blackmail tactics with the Attorney General and State Police.”
Colasante said Germain should also consider contacting the United States Attorney or the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.
“Whether you agree or disagree with Aniece Germain on her politics or policy positions, no one deserves the treatment this woman of color and proud member of the Haitian community received," he said.
Colasante said, "Marino and her supporters will use misdirection and innuendo about the tax status of Germain’s non-profit organization to cover up their raw political hit job on the Councilwoman."
“Council President Marino should step down as Council President until there is a full and thorough investigation of her role and conduct," said Colasante. "This has placed a cloud over the council chambers.”
Neither Marino nor Colasante responded to calls for comment at time of publication.
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