Former Republican Governor John Rowland, who has already served federal prison time on corruption-related charges, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of illegal campaign activity.
It's a controversy that has been brewing for a couple of years. It picked up steam last week with the guilty pleas of a one-time Republican congressional candidate and her husband.
Now, in a seven-count indictment and a press release, the federal government alleges that the former governor and congressman tried to hide the nature of his work for candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley. In the scheme, Rowland was ostensibly getting paid to work for Wilson-Foley's husband, Brian Foley, and his nursing home business. In reality, the money was to consult on Wilson-Foley's campaign. That was in 2011 and 2012. The former governor made $35,000 off of the deal, and never disclosed it to the Feds.
The indictment also alleges that Rowland tried to do something similar with a different candidate back in 2009 and 2010. Prosecutors said Rowland even drafted a "sham consulting contract" to make it all look right.
The charges against Rowland include two counts of falsifying records in a federal investigation, one count of conspiracy, two counts of causing false statements, and two counts of causing illegal campaign contributions.
Rowland will be arraigned in federal court in New Haven Friday at 2:30 pm.
