© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Prosecution Rests Its Case Against Rowland

Mark Pazniokas
/
The Connecticut Mirror
"It was roughly a ten-to-one ratio of emails that went to the campaign, as opposed to going to the client that was paying the freight."
Mark Pazniokas

The prosecution has rested its case in the federal campaign corruption trial of former Connecticut Governor John Rowland.

The former governor and convicted felon faces seven federal charges, including allegations he conspired to hide payments for work he did on the 2012 fifth district congressional campaign of Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley. Prosecutors say Rowland worked on the campaign, but was paid through a consulting deal with a nursing home company owned by her husband, Brian Foley.

On Monday, prosecutors showed the jury a chart showing the hundreds of calls Rowland made to the campaign, and the several dozen calls he made to executives at the nursing home company, Apple Health Care. 

“What they showed the jury was the heavy email volume that went to the campaign once he signed on as a consultant to Apple, as opposed to the nursing home company itself,” said Mark Pazniokas, a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror who is covering the trial. “It was roughly a ten-to-one ratio of emails that went to the campaign, as opposed to going to the client that was paying the freight.” 

Pazniokas said the intent of the prosecutors was to reinforce their premise: that Rowland was actually working for the campaign, and hiding it from federal elections officials.

Rowland's defense attorney contends the Republican did legitimate work for Apple. He planned to call the company's executive vice president, Brian Bedard, as his first witness. 

“The defense hinted that they may have a very short witness list,” Pazniokas said.

One question is whether Rowland will be on it. 

Pazniokas said the judge told Rowland that his prior federal conviction would be fair game should he take the stand. “In Mr. Rowland’s case,” he said, “she was very specific, saying look, the downside here, obviously, is the fact you can be cross-examined at some length about your conviction in federal court on a corruption charge. But in the end, it’s his call. In any case, it appears we are drawing to a close regarding the trial of John Rowland.”

Testimony resumes on Tuesday.

Jeff Cohen started in newspapers in 2001 and joined Connecticut Public in 2010, where he worked as a reporter and fill-in host. In 2017, he was named news director. Then, in 2022, he became a senior enterprise reporter.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content