Donovan Plans Rally
by CTNewsjunkie Staff | Jun 6, 2012 11:42am
(5) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Congress, Election 2012, Town News, Hartford
House Speaker Chris Donovan, whose congressional campaign was shaken by the arrest of his finance director, will rally with his supporters at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
A campaign spokesman said yesterday that it canceled a press event with state lawmakers until after the June 12 special legislative session because it didn’t want to be perceived as trying to sway anyone to vote for the legislation which is part of the focus of the federal investigation. Donovan has said he will hand over his leadership duties to House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey for the special session.
The FBI undercover investigation that lead to the arrest of Donovan’s campaign finance director involved an agent posing as an investor in a roll-your-own smoke shop looking to defeat legislation to increase fees on these smoke shops. The money was then funneled to Donovan’s campaign through straw donors, according to the federal affidavit.
Donovan, who built his career on labor and good government issues, claimed Sunday he did not know “anyone might have been trying to funnel illegal contributions to my campaign. No one ever made a deal with me as a quid pro quo.”
Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesman for Donovan’s congressional campaign, said Wednesday that the rally will feature supporters like labor leaders who aren’t lawmakers.
On Tuesday, Donovan’s campaign sent out an email to supporters thanking them for standing with him.
“It has been a difficult couple of days, both personally, and for the campaign,“ Donovan wrote. “Your support means the world to me, because I know I can count on you in the rough times, as well as the good ones.”
The rally will be held at 21 Oak Street in Hartford.
Tags: Chris Donovan, rally, Hartford, Gabe Rosenberg, federal investigation
(5) Comments
posted by: and 1 | June 6, 2012 2:19pm
Hopefully the equipment they use will be legally and ethicall obtained this time. Personally, I was supporting Chris but after all of this and now having labor union leaders participating in the rally well I wonder.
posted by: Noteworthy | June 6, 2012 3:24pm
The rally will feature labor leaders who aren’t legislators. Are they funders? Bundlers? Mr. Rosenberg might want to check his optics on having a bunch of union guys when at least one union guy was the bag man already with all the crooked contributions.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | June 6, 2012 3:57pm
Will the AFSCME local treasurers be there, checkbooks in hand, on their knees swearing fealty to their king?
posted by: oliviahuxtable | June 6, 2012 6:05pm
This is one labor member who will NOT be rallying for Donovan. Instead, after his bullying of state employees last year I will relish in his defeat. He is no friend of labor. Not the rank-and-file, anyway. Labor bosses with hefty checkbooks? Perhaps.
posted by: Reasonable | June 6, 2012 9:30pm
The bottom line is—Chris Donovan was THE RECIPIENT of illegal contributions through straw donors. He does not appear to be OFF THE HOOK in this federal probe of his tainted campaign revelations. If Donovan could not run his campaign—above the board, why does he think voters will vote for him?
He is already carrying too much baggage, running for office. People are reluctant to vote for a questionable political candidate —when we have so much DEAD WEIGHT to replace in Congress already.