Hartford, CT – Today, Connecticut Republicans are waking up to the same thing they did back in 2003: the felonious John Rowland’s friend, Jeb Bush, coming to Connecticut to raise cash. The Hartford Courant took note of the Groundhog Day repetition of events in a blog post this week: “It was also a different Republican Party back in June 2003 when Gov. John G. Rowland was still popular because he had not yet run into the buzzsaw of problems from a federal investigation and multiple disclosures by The Hartford Courant that hit in late 2003 and the first half of 2004. Rowland invited Bush, his friend, to the dinner – not long after Rowland had helped Bush get re-elected as Florida governor with the help of money raised by Rowland when he was the chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association in 2002.”

“We’ve definitely seen this movie before, and we know how badly it ends,” said Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo. “The CT GOP bringing back John Rowland’s close friend, Jeb Bush, on the eve of more expected felony indictments for Rowland only reinforces the fact that the Connecticut Republican Party is still influenced by Rowland.”

Background:

In 2003, “Rowland Invited Bush, His Friend, To The Dinner – Not Long After Rowland Had Helped Bush Get Re-Elected As Florida Governor With The Help Of Money Raised By Rowland When He Was The Chairman Of The Republican Governors’ Association In 2002.” “Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, is returning to Connecticut this week to headline the Republican Party’s top fundraising dinner – in a return engagement from one of the most successful dinners in the party’s history.[…] It was also a different Republican Party back in June 2003 when Gov. John G. Rowland was still popular because he had not yet run into the buzzsaw of problems from a federal investigation and multiple disclosures by The Hartford Courant that hit in late 2003 and the first half of 2004. Rowland invited Bush, his friend, to the dinner – not long after Rowland had helped Bush get re-elected as Florida governor with the help of money raised by Rowland when he was the chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association in 2002.” [Capitol Watch, Hartford Courant, 4/8/14]

Former Governor John Rowland Plead Guilty To Felony Conspiracy To Steal Honest Service. “Former Gov. John G. Rowland, driven from office by a corruption scandal, pleaded guilty Thursday to a single federal charge. It carries a sentence of up to five years. Rowland pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal honest service, a felony that also carries a possible $250,000 fine.” [CBS News, 6/21/04]

Rowland Was Identified As A Co-Conspirator In Federal Court And Documents Introduced Demonstrated “The Efforts Of Federal Investigators To Build A Case For Rowland’s Possible Indictment By A Grand Jury.” “Former Gov. John G. Rowland, identified Monday in federal court as a co-conspirator in an alleged campaign financing scheme, announced Thursday that he was leaving as WTIC-AM’s afternoon talk-show host. ‘Today will be my last show as I leave the station to take care of some personal issues,’ he said just before 6 p.m, at the end of his regular three-hour time slot.[…] Rowland’s surprise announcement came three days after businessman Brian Foley and his wife, former congressional candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley, admitted in federal court in Hartford that they used a sham consulting contract with Rowland to secretly pay him for political assistance to Wilson-Foley’s 2012 campaign. Documents introduced in court Monday demonstrated dramatically the efforts of federal investigators to build a case for Rowland’s possible indictment by a grand jury. Rowland, whose show was preempted by baseball on Monday, returned to the microphone for his showTuesday and said, ‘I am not going to be discussing the recent news and legal developments … I want to respect the process.’” [Hartford Courant,4/3/14]

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