Hartford Courant: A Big Smudge On Rell Record

[Larkspur]

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-moodyblues.artdec20,0,3555508.story?coll=hc-headlines-editorials

Gov. M. Jodi Rell's suspension of her top aide, M. Lisa Moody, for two weeks because she crossed ethical lines will not expunge the shadow on an administration that has made a crusade of clean government. The penalty is a wrist-slap considering the size of the gaffe.

Both Ms. Moody and the governor said the violation of ethical standards was unintentional. But after it was reported in The Courant, Rachel Rubin, the governor's chief counsel on ethical matters, revealed that she had seen Ms. Moody hand out invitations to a campaign fundraiser from the governor's office suite and warned her that such activity was prohibited.

Ms. Moody apparently was unmoved by the advice. She later distributed invitations to several state commissioners on company time, and some may have redistributed them to members of their own agencies.

It is against the law for state employees to campaign while on duty. The invitation asked for donations up to $2,500. Employees who knowingly violate election laws can face a fine and jail time. Both the Elections Enforcement Commission and the chief state's attorney's office are investigating if laws were broken. For sure, the governor's own standards were breached.
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[Larkspur]

1. DeStefano Responds to Lisa Moody's Suspension as Chief of Staff

http://www.destefanoforct.com/node/748

“Governor Rell still doesn’t get it. Yesterday, I called on the Governor to take a number of steps to restore public trust in her office. While I am glad that she heeded my call and suspended her chief of staff, more must be done. Today’s suspension of the governor’s chief of staff for two weeks amounts to a holiday vacation and still does not address what the Governor knew and when she knew it about illegal fundraising on her behalf by her chief of staff and one half dozen of her commissioners. Governor Rell’s continued refusal to disclose who attended and contributed to her fundraiser raises serious legal and ethical questions that remain unresolved."

[NewJeffCT]

2. Now, that response just needs to make it to the Courant & others

good response, though.