Poli-ticks

Violet: Some leftovers from 2016

By Arlene Violet
Posted 1/9/17

One has to wonder if being a Rhode Island politician means never having to say you are sorry. Some stories broke in 2016 and the public has not seen any resolution concerning them. Here’s a …

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Poli-ticks

Violet: Some leftovers from 2016

Posted

One has to wonder if being a Rhode Island politician means never having to say you are sorry. Some stories broke in 2016 and the public has not seen any resolution concerning them. Here’s a sampling of the leftovers:

Governor Gina Raimondo and 38 Studios

The Governor’s mouth was saying yes to release the 38 Studios “investigation” while apparently her head was nodding “no”. She then began to pile on so many contingencies to the release that most Rhode Islanders will be pushing up daisies before the conditions are met. Saying “yes” and meaning “no” may become an all-too-often occurrence for the governor.

Representative Ray Gallison

In May 2016 the representative from District 69 and former House Finance chair resigned his seat in the RI legislature amid claims that he embezzled money from various sources among other accusations. The federal authorities seized about $933,000 allegedly in ill-begotten gains including syphoning off about $181,000 in his control involving a bachelor client’s estate.

At the time his assets were seized the investigation was about 3 months old. As we approach 2017, inquiring minds want to know if any charges are going to be filed. United States Attorney Peter Neronha has to be keeping an eye on the clock. While he is too professional to rush any probe, nonetheless, he has to be concerned that he serves at the pleasure of the President. Mr. Neronha was appointed during a democrat administration so the incoming republican regime may very well have him in the crosshairs. President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Alabama attorney general, Jeff Sessions, may very well stutter step during confirmation proceedings since the NAACP and other groups are adamantly opposed to him. A prolonged hearing will buy time for Mr. Neronha as the people of Rhode Island await action and hope that the time won’t run out.

John Carnevale

Due to the great investigative work of WPRI’s Tim White, Mr. Carnevale was outed as a non-resident of his district. During his defense Mr. Carnevale affirmed under oath that he lived in the basement of a house he rented and shared a bathroom with one of his tenants while his home in Johnston was, well, whatever. The state police started an investigation in June 2016. What’s happening?

Kevin Jackson

The Providence City Councilman was indicted in July 2016 and has drawn out the time of trial by various legal procedures. Meanwhile he collects his compensation and benefits from cash-strapped Providence. Will there be a trial soon?

In the past Rhode Island has been particularly lenient with malefactors in government. When various members of the board of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation who ran the Johnston landfill and who engaged in nefarious acts including overpayment for land owned by William Macera, former Johnston mayor, the state police “investigation” ran afoul of the statute of limitations. Then Attorney General Patrick Lynch, said that the failure of his office in turn to take timely action had nothing to do with the fact that he previously was a paid lobbyist for the corporation members.

His inaction was the modus operandi for far too long in Rhode Island. Vigilance is the watch word to make sure that history does not repeat itself in the above legal matters, all of which are pending.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.

Arlene Violet

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.