On the eve of the Hartford campaign finance trial of former State Senator Ernie Newton, Governor Dan Malloy Monday afternoon was issued a subpoena by Newton’s lawyer Darnell Crosland, according to Bridgeport City Sheriff David Goodman who served the papers to the governor at his office in Hartford.
“I handed the paperwork to the governor personally,” Goodman told OIB. A spokesman for the governor confirmed the governor was served.
OIB placed a call to Crosland Monday to shed light on his legal strategy for calling the governor. Crosland told the Associated Press he wants Malloy to testify about the cost of the state’s prosecution of Newton, adding it’s an expensive “witch hunt” taxpayers can’t afford.
Sometimes witnesses are subpoenaed but never called to testify. And it’s a big question if Malloy would even be required to appear. The state Attorney General’s Office would likely weigh in on the governor’s behalf.
The trial for Newton, the self-proclaimed Moses of his peeps, is scheduled to get underway Tuesday morning, Three Kings Day. Malloy will officially begin his second four-year term on Wednesday, also the start of the new session of the General Assembly.
Not far away in Hartford, Newton will be on trial this week accused of falsifying $500 in campaign donations to trigger an $80,000 grant under the state’s Citizens Election Program of publicly financed races. The state is not accusing Newton of using the money for personal gain. Newton’s lawyer has characterized the charges as a witch hunt, arguing the state has charged Newton criminally for issues that are historically dealt with as a civil matter.
State prosecutors are expected to call witnesses who will claim they fabricated donations at the request of Newton for his 2012 run for State Senate. Newton denies their claims. Newton finished second to Andres Ayala in the Democratic primary. Malloy is expected to appoint Ayala commissioner of the State Department of Motor Vehicles this week.
Under Connecticut’s campaign finance law for State Senate, candidates must raise $15,000 in donations between $5 and $100 to receive a larger pot of public money. The state asserts Newton manipulated the process to secure the public money for his campaign. The state is expected to put on its case for about three days. Crosland will then call several Bridgeport political figures to the stand to refute state charges.
The more I see this picture of Ayala and Malloy, it reminds me of one of those opening scenes from the Wizard of Oz.
Why, because he’s shorter than Malloy? Many people are. He’s a lot smarter that you’ll ever be!
We represent the lullabye league
The lullabye league
The lullabye league
And in the the name of the lullabye league
We welcome you to Munchkinland.
🙂
The wind began to switch, the house to pitch and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch! 🙂
🙂
So this is Ernie’s legal strategy?
Subpoena the Governor?
Then what?
The Governor paid these people to testify against him?
Another sad day for Bridgeport.
Newton is wearing Fabrizi’s suit, stylish!
Ayala has man boobs.
Do you think Ayala will still have a roommate when he becomes director of DMV, or will he have enough money to cover his own rent? Or maybe his GF will let him sleep over the house now.
Only in Bridgeport may be the name of this blog. However, this kind of stuff can only happen there. I’m so glad I moved out when I did. My roots are still there and it is sad to see.
Lol at all these comments. Ernie, just go away already, enough with the crimes.
The judge will throw this case out of court by Friday!
The judge: “Did Mr. Newton give you $100 to donate to his campaign?”
Campaign worker: “No sir.”
The judge: “Dismissed with prejudice!”
The judge: “I’d like to see all counsels in my chambers. Now!”
Not quite, Jim.
These five individuals already said Ernie paid them. The state did not make this up. So under your scenario, the prosecutor will say, “Excuse me I have in front of me a signed affidavit in which you admit to taking money from Mr. Newton to donate to his campaign. My question is are you lying now or were you lying then? It is perjury either way but the court may allow you to correct you previous answer that you made in court today if you do so right now.”
Who do you think is representing Ernie, Perry Mason?
Bob, Hamilton Burger?
I’m sure Ernie would never directly put money into the hands of one of his campaign workers. I would be shocked to think that’s how this went down.
The judge has already told the state prosecutor they should try to settle because they don’t have much from what he sees and that’s bad for them. Having said that, Good Luck, Ernie.
Lennie, that picture of Ernie looks like he has on a Frankenstein ‘fro.
It also looks like he’s trying to tone down his sartorial appearance.