Thursday, December 14, 2006

Moodygate Back from the Dead

From the Courant:
Gov. M. Jodi Rell's chief of staff, M. Lisa Moody, "misled" a legislative committee by giving sworn testimony that was "not credible" regarding a Rell fundraiser last year, according to a draft copy of a new legislative report.

The report, obtained Wednesday by The Courant, also says that state elections enforcement chief Jeffrey Garfield should face "some form of reprimand or censure" because he deleted important information from an investigative report and released the unedited version only after hearings were completed last spring. (Keating)

The report, which was prepared by Democrats on the government administration and elections committee, comes out some six months after Moody's testimony to that committee this spring.

The report, which is signed by Rep. Chris Caruso and Sen. Ed Meyer, tells us nothing that we don't already know, but does make several recommendations, including prohibiting chiefs of staff from soliciting campaign donations and prohibiting the state elections enforcement chief from settling cases.

I'm just not sure where they can go from here. Moody is obviously going to stay for as long as she wants. Nothing much will happen to Garfield, although he should face some sort of penalty. The public didn't care six months ago, they certainly don't care now. Rell herself will remain untouched by the scandal. The end result will be a few stricter rules about ethics. I guess that's nice.

The report will be considered by the Democrats today.

Source
Keating, Christopher and Jon Lender. "Report: Top Rell Aide `Misled' Committee." Hartford Courant 14 December, 2006.

22 comments:

ken krayeske said...

"Pony up, czarina."

If Cliff Thornton got into the debates, we had trained him to deliver that line with clarity and succinctness.

The other one was:
"Gov. Rell: Were you complicit or incompetent in regards to Gov. Rowland? I might guess complicity because of Lisa Moody, but it might be that you just didn't know. In either case, you're unfit to govern."

The Republicans accused the Dems of still running a campaign. I don't think it's a bad idea to maintain pressure on Gov. Rell.

Whose going to protest the inaugural ball Jan. 3 with me? No need to make nice after watching this documentary about CJTS:
http://www.youthrightsmedia.org/cost.html

Genghis Conn said...

Ken,

What exactly are you protesting?

Anonymous said...

People who become chiefs of staff are appointed primarily because they are good liars or at least are willing to lie in a tough spot. And not only do they lie willingly, but years later they derive great pleasure from having done so. It is pointless to try legislating against a tradition so strong.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to a wandering hot tub residents of connecticut have seen the bright shiny cover ripped off our courts, almost all the various state agencies and commissions, two out of three of the whistleblower agencies and the state police. Of particular note should be the DCYF, that wasted multi millions building a "super Max" for children by a commisssioner that turned out to be a drunk and adulterer. Now we find the arrogance and games continue within inches of the a self professed "reform" govenor. The original issue was minor and should have been dealt with by a quick mea culpa but these people have been inbred so long they cannot help cheating. It should not be assumed that this is a conspiracy - it is simply a culture of arrogance, power hunger and greed. You all can play with voting stats, etc from the past but the next votes will be driven by CURRENT issues. The US found itself significantly downgraded on the most recent list of corrupt countires due to events like Enron. Iraq is literally old news - corruption is present, pervasive and personal.

Anonymous said...

Moody's not a member - she can be held in contempt, but not censured. And as for the culture of corruption - it is rife in both parties. Let's not rehash all the gory details, but to think it is solely a Republican problem is to have one's head firmly in the sand.

Anonymous said...

I hope Tim Johnson improves and can do his job. But if that doesn’t happen, certainly Mr. Sodd loses his chairmanships. But what happens to Joe?

Maybe Mitch does something unexpected? Like Intelligence, he makes Homeland Security have co-chairs - by Joe and whoever the R is. That makes Mitch look very bipartisan, but he knows Joe Repuberman will work “work with” him.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of idiots in Hartford, here's more on why amman is wrong about Utopia Studios:http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=6b83e101-8178-4b91-9386-7af94ae97772

Anonymous said...

People on both sides of the isle Hate Lisa Moody, if both parties call for her to resign, the Gov would be in a spot....

Anonymous said...

Rell is not, under any circumstances, going to get rid of Moody. Does anyone really believe Rell went gift free during the Rowland era? Moody know where all the bodies are buried.

Anonymous said...

Please Anon. 11:05 get a grip on reality. Rell will never ask for Moody's resignation nor should she. What Moody did was incredibly stupid and wrong, but rest assured that she is not the only one at the State Capitol who has engaged in such flauting of our laws. unfortunatley for her, she just happened to get caught. Do you think the Speaker's office has never engaged in political fundraising? Ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!

News flash: they all do it.

Anonymous said...

They all do it - but Rell said she wouldn't have any of it. Which is it? Or is Rell just all for show and no substance as many have said.

Anonymous said...

So what's your point Anon. 12:18? Are you trying to attack Rell for being hypocritical? Ouch. She just won by a landslide and obviously doesn't care. Of course, Moody's action are inconsistent with Rell's claims about ethics. Does anyone not realize that? My point is that ALL of the legislators and the REST of the constitutional officers engage in questionable activity, yet neither you nor any Democrat on the GAE committee is conducting an investigation of things that are occurring right under their noses. Why don't you criticize them too and call for an independent ivestigation of everyone!

Anonymous said...

If Moody is Rasputin and Rell is czarina, then the donkeys are the communists. Get over it! The election is over. Rell won, Rowland went to the slammer. Moody's sin was handing out invites instead of mailing 'em.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:46pm

Actually Moody is Peter Ellef in a dress and Rell in an icon of mediocrity (and none too deep). We're stuck with both of them.

Anonymous said...

Friends of John are back. Chris Cooper is back and Rowland hack George Gallo is Cafero's #1 in the house. Rumor's are flying that Gallo has landed a high paying job for his wife working for Fedele. All Rell & Moody need to do now is bring back Chrissy and the hot tub. And Republicans like to talk about state employees making 30 grand a year...what a joke!

Anonymous said...

Let's see: Moody lied to the GAE or at least misled them and BobFarr who wanted to be AG says that since the election is over we should all let it go. Farr for Superior Court Judge!!!!

Anonymous said...

People on here make me laugh, Chris Cooper and George Gallo had nothing to do with all that Rowland crap, they never had to testify,

it is funny how you never cast out any Dems would worked with Newton...

Anonymous said...

Dear anon 3:57pm:
I'm sure that Mrs. Gallo would be flattered to hear that being the Lieutenant Governor's scheduler is considered a "high paying job." But in actuality, Mrs. Gallo took a pay-cut by accepting that job. So stop grinding whatever ax you have by impugning hardworking and qualified state employees with your misinformation and vitriol. Maybe some more of them should start working hard and look to take on new challenges instead of just watching their ass grow as they earn their pension.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

>>Actually Moody is Peter Ellef in a dress

Like Lisa or not; she is NOT pond scum, while Peter Ellef most certainly is.

Anonymous said...

Moody misled the GAE.

Anonymous said...

Like it or not, there is a plausible interpretation of Moody's testimony that leads to the conclusion that she did not mislead the Committee.

Anonymous said...

Is lisa moody that cute blond girl?