Federal prosecutors allege that former Governor John Rowland used his radio show on WTIC-AM to prop up Lisa Wilson-Foley's candidacy during the 2012 race in Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District.
Andrew Roraback, who is now serving as a Connecticut Superior Court judge, eventually won the Republican nomination for the seat in 2012. Roraback was blasted by Rowland, however, on his radio show, while Rowland was being paid by Brian Foley for political consulting services on his wife's campaign.
The Hartford Courant first reported this story:
Prosecutors said that Rowland booked Roraback for a guest appearance in late 2011 that turned out to be a "pre-arranged and calculated" attack. A month or so later, Rowland used his talk show to blast Roraback's opposition to capital punishment and prosecutors said the attack "was not legitimate opinion broadcasting, but a political ambush paid for by Brian Foley."
Roraback did not reply to a request for comment on the case from the Courant.
In May 2012, Roraback appeared on WNPR's Where We Live and discussed Rowland's involvement in the Wilson-Foley campaign. Listen below:
"I think openness and transparency always makes for a healthier political process, and my only objection to their relationship was the absence of disclosure."
Andrew Roraback
Below is a transcript of the conversation:
JOHN DANKOSKY, HOST: There have been some concerns about the candidacy of Lisa Wilson-Foley, who was going to be on the show today. She decided she didn't want to come on the show, and we appreciate you stepping in today on short notice to be able to join us. She's been linked with former Governor John Rowland, who now has a talk show on WTIC. Without getting into all the details about that, there have been some concerns about his involvement in her race. Now that the financial disclosures have been made by her campaign, do you have any other concerns about this arrangement that she's made with the former governor of this state?
ANDREW RORABACK: Well, the former governor is free to make a living, and the Foleys are free to hire him to work for them. This is America. My only concern was the lack of transparency and disclosure. The fact that the governor was being paid by Mr. Foley from October 1 until March 30, when he was on the radio -- and I was a guest on his show during that time period, without the public having been made aware that he was both volunteering for her campaign, and on the payroll of her husband's company. I think that was a mistake in judgment, and I think that all of us would have been better served. I think openness and transparency always makes for a healthier political process, and my only objection to their relationship was the absence of disclosure.
"[Rowland] made some serious mistakes, and he paid for those mistakes."
Andrew Roraback
DANKOSKY: One of the complaints that others have made -- and I haven't heard you, personally, make this complaint, but others have made the complaint -- that former Governor Rowland used his radio show to attack your candidacy. Did you feel that you were attacked by Governor Rowland on-air?
RORABACK: There were a couple of occasions when I felt that the questioning was tougher than it had been prior to him being employed by the Foleys, but that's my judgment. That's what I felt subjectively, and I'm running for office, so John, I'm here to answer hard questions, and I don't expect you or anyone that I'm on the radio with to hand me softballs one after the other. I'm here to answer tough questions, and I can handle myself, whatever the question may be.
DANKOSKY: He gave out your cell phone number on the air. Did anybody call you, angry?
RORABACK: Yes, a couple of people called me, and --
DANKOSKY: Really?
RORABACK: That was okay by me. I give out my cell phone number quite routinely, and one of the hallmarks of my service is my accessibility. I think there was an article yesterday that rated the candidates in terms of their accessibility, and I think I tied for first.
DANKOSKY: What is your relationship with former Governor Rowland? Has he ever done any advising for you? Has he ever raised any money for you? Have you worked together? Obviously, you were in the legislature while he was governor, but I guess I'm wondering what your relationship has been with former Governor Rowland.
RORABACK: It's been cordial, and we don't see one another socially, or we don't have a personal relationship, but I was on his show a lot last year, and always enjoyed the opportunity to share my views with the public. No, he hasn't worked for me. I wouldn't ask him to work for me, but there's no [animosity] between us. I served with him for a long time. He made some serious mistakes, and he paid for those mistakes, and I certainly don't think that he's in a position to help my campaign. I haven't asked for his help.
