Politics > Politics-USA > Corrupt Republican governor apologizes for lying but says he won't step down.
| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
08 Jan 2004 11:50:27 AM |
| Object: |
Corrupt Republican governor apologizes for lying but says he won't step down. |
From The Los Angeles Times, 1/8/04:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-conngov8jan08,1,6905780.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
Connecticut Governor Apologizes but Says He Won't Step Down
In a TV address, John G. Rowland admits he lied about gifts he
accepted.
Lawmakers will discuss impeachment today.
By Elizabeth Mehren, Times Staff Writer
BOSTON --
Gov. John G. Rowland of Connecticut apologized Wednesday for lying
about gifts he accepted, but pledged to remain in office despite a
federal corruption probe and calls for his resignation or impeachment.
"I lied and there are no excuses," the governor said in a six-minute
speech televised throughout New England.
"I should have known better, and I do know better."
His apology came one day after federal criminal investigators served
him with a grand jury subpoena in connection with a probe of
improvements made to his vacation cottage.
Rowland, a three-term Republican governor, also met Tuesday with half
a dozen legislative leaders who are considering whether to impeach
him.
And hours before Rowland's terse television address, Connecticut's
Quinnipiac University released a poll showing that 56% of state voters
thought he should resign and that 13% of those polled said they
considered the governor trustworthy.
Rowland's troubles stem from $30,000 worth of repairs made in 1997 to
his lakeside home in the western Connecticut community of Litchfield.
Rowland, 46, initially said he had paid for a hot tub, a cathedral
ceiling and other renovations.
But on Dec. 12, he admitted that staff members and state contractors
provided labor and gifts that improved the property.
The Tomasso Group, one of the construction companies that Rowland
admitted did free work on his house, has been under scrutiny in a
federal bid-rigging investigation.
As part of the bid-rigging probe, Rowland's former deputy chief of
staff, Lawrence Alibozek, pleaded guilty to accepting cash and gold.
Alibozek is awaiting sentencing.
In 1997 Rowland became the first Connecticut governor to pay an ethics
violation fine after accepting free concert tickets.
Last year, he was again fined by his state's ethics commission for
accepting reduced-rate vacation accommodations at homes in Florida and
Vermont owned by the Tomasso Group.
In an interview on Wednesday, state Rep. Jim Amann -- Connecticut's
Democratic majority leader -- said a legislative caucus would convene
today to consider whether to impeach the governor.
He said a legislative investigation also was possible.
"If I had to guess, I am sure the majority will say it is time to
act," Amann said.
"Doing nothing is not going to be an option with my caucus."
Under Connecticut law, however, impeachment is a prolonged and
complicated process.
No governor has been impeached, Amann said, and the last time the
process was invoked was more than 20 years ago, when a state judge was
removed from office.
"It's either going to be a Clinton-like impeachment or a Nixon-like
hearing process," Amann said.
In his televised speech, Rowland said that over recent weeks he had
"wrestled with John Rowland the governor and the mess I've created."
He insisted that he had provided no favors in exchange for the gifts
he accepted, and "humbly" asked for the chance to redeem himself.
______________________________________________________
If he doesn't resign, impeach his *****.
Harry
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
Army Cracks Down on Deserters But Misses Bush
AZ cops finally crack down on illegals. But only after cop killed by an illegal
Slouching Towards Mexico: : Workers' wages DOWN but profits UP
It had taken less than an hour, but the attack had turned the world upside down. Nineteen men transformed four airplanes into weapons of mass destruction. America, righteously indignant and hungry for revenge, lashed out. But the war on terrorism had
Re: Incredible but true - Democrat Party is going down
Iraq-Nazi analogy crammed down your throat but tough to swallow
Frivolous Bush, But Not Citizens!
George W. Napolean missed the real nukes, but,,,,
| "This may not be Vietnam, but, boy, it sure smells like it."
Re: Do Democrats SUCK, almost beyond measure? Most voters say, "Yes!", but what do YOU say??
Re: Democrats Hate Democracy But Love A Stupid Electorate
We did what we had to do, but it should never have got to that point
Yeah but Sadam was worse!
Re : : Hitler=25, Bush=23 in poll : : Bush is pushing his luck with the world - But he's too stupid to know it.
John F. Kerry is the Democrat Party nominee for President. But is he fit for office?
|
|
|
