CT Gov. Rowland to resign tonight

According to a Hartford Courant report, Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland will announce his resignation from office during a televised speech tonight at 6P ET, amid a growing federal corruption investigation and a growing movement to impeach him.

Lt. Governor Jodi Rell will take the reins of the state's highest office on July 1.

Evidence presented during the past two weeks in televised hearings had established what newspapers had reported: Rowland had accepted a variety of favors from state contractors and close aides in violation of state ethics laws.

In the case of businessman Robert V. Matthews, Rowland had accepted a total of more than $50,000 in inflated rental payments and an above-market purchase price on the governor's Washington condominium.

At the time, Matthews was seeking state economic aid for several ventures.

47 year-old Rowland is a third-term Republican. He is not expected to vacate the governor's mansion immediately, but plans are being coordinated with Rell.

There is no word on how Rowland's resignation will affect the ongoing grand jury investigation into his actions.

Posted by: mhking at 06:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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