Is RI the Epitome of Ethical Politicians in America? No Corruption Cases in Nearly 4 Years
GoLocalProv News Team
Is RI the Epitome of Ethical Politicians in America? No Corruption Cases in Nearly 4 Years
In a state that is often considered synonymous with political corruption, the new unheard-of streak sparks serious questions — is this four-year period an aberration, is there a lack of attention by federal and state law enforcement, or have we entered a new era?
Rhode Island is known better around the country for the late two-time convicted felon Buddy Cianci than it is for Samuel Slater — the father of the American Industrial Revolution.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I think our long history of high profile public corruption — from Bevilacqua to DiPrete, to Cianci, to Fox — has led to enormous reforms over the last three decades that have, in turn, had a positive impact on changing the culture. We will never eliminate corruption altogether, however, as long as there is greed, unfortunately,” said John Marion, the Executive Director of Common Cause RI.
Marion is referring to an endless number of cases that saw the downfall of judicial leaders like Rhode Island State Supreme Court Justices Joseph Bevilacqua and Thomas Fay — both forced to resign. The prosecution of former Governor Ed DiPrete who spend a year in prison, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Gordon Fox. And, there were mayors -- Cianci being the highest profile but also mayors in Central Falls and Pawtucket were prosecuted -- Charles Moreau and Brian Sarault, respectively.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha came to office with a lengthy anti-corruption record as U.S. Attorney from Rhode Island, but since taking office in January of 2019 no public official has been charged with a crime.
As a candidate, he highlighted his anti-corruption record, “And while we all wish it were otherwise, there’s little doubt that there’s more public corruption work ahead. That work needs to be done, not just because politicians ought to do what’s right, but because when they don’t, it has a real, negative impact on our economy. No one wants to do business in a state that’s for sale.”
But other than negotiating the plea agreement with Laufton Ascencao, a Bristol Democrat who a House of Representatives set in 2018 but resigned before taking office -- Neronha has not had a politician charged under his tenure as AG.
As part of a plea agreement, Ascencao received a five-year suspended sentence with probation and ordered restitution of $13,387.70 to the Rhode Island Chapter of the Sierra Club. The court also imposed a $1,000 fine.
At the U.S. Attorney’s office, the office has been equally quiet. Over the last four years, under both appointees of President Donald Trump and now, under the leadership of Biden appointee Zachary A. Cunha, there have been no public corruption cases involving Rhode Island officials.
According to Neronha spokesperson Brian Hodge says the Attorney General has been active.
“Upon taking Office, to ensure that public corruption cases would be capably investigated and prosecuted, the Attorney General established a Public Integrity Unit, consisting of three experienced prosecutors. Those prosecutors have handled and are handling a number of significant, complex investigations and prosecutions, including the investigation and prosecution of Representative-elect Laufton Ascencao for campaign finance violations, the investigation and prosecution of a high-ranking Middletown police-officer for official misconduct which resulted in a guilty verdict after trial, the investigation of potential environmental violations in connection with Route 6/10 connector project, the investigation and prosecution of a high ranking Twin River official for soliciting bribes. The Unit also reviewed the Walter Craddock and Anthony Silva matters,” said Hodge.
Both the Middletown Police and Ascencao cases cited by Hodge began before Neronha came to office. Charges were not brought against Craddock, the head of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, or Silva, the former chief of staff for Governor Dan McKee.
In September 2020, GoLocal unveiled the dumping of contaminated soil by the lead contractor on the 6/10 project. That case has been under federal and state investigation for nearly two years.
Marion says there is no single reason for the change.
"There is probably no single explanation for the decline. Certainly, since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2016 decision in McDonnell it has become harder for the federal government to prosecute because the definition of an "official act" was narrowed. Prosecutorial discretion may play a role as well, with priorities shifting toward fighting COVID fraud and other forms of white collar crime, siphoning off resources from public corruption cases," said Marion.
Politico reported the following on the McDonnell case, "A unanimous Supreme Court has overturned the corruption convictions of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, ruling that federal prosecutors relied on a 'boundless' definition of the kinds of acts that could lead politicians to face criminal charges."
A Washington Post piece published in 2021, ranked Rhode Island #6 in the United States. "The subject of a great podcast series called “Crimetown,” Rhode Island and particularly its capital, Providence, have earned that nickname," cited the Post.
But now, Rhode Island is a bastion of ethics, according to law enforcement and prosecutors over the past four years.