Rhode Island Governor breaks ethics rules for fourth time
From Sunshine Review
18 November 2008
For the fourth time in six years, Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri has broken state ethics rules. This time around Carcieri admitted to violating anti-nepotism laws by hiring his niece, and paid $2,500 to settle the issue.[1]
[edit] A "clear violation"
Shortly after taking office in 2003 Carcieri hired niece Stephanie Accaputo to work in his constituent affairs office. Since the violation has come to light, Accaputo has resigned her position.
Dianne Leyden, prosecutor for the Ethics Commission, said that the hiring was a clear violation of the ethics rules, but is content with the outcome.[1]
[edit] Past violations
This is the latest in a string of ethics violations Carcieri has settled.
In 2005 he paid $750 for accepting free New England Patriots tickets from Fleet bank, who had significant business with the state at the time. In that year he also failed to file a financial disclosure statement on time.
In 2007 Carcieri paid $1,000 for illegally soliciting campaign donations from state employees.[1]
Leyden pointed out the irony that Carcieri’s first executive order as governor required state employees to follow the ethics code. She stated the governor has “an obvious track record. There have been four complaints, two were consolidated (the Patriots and the financial disclosure), there were three cases and three fines have been paid and we still have two more years to go.”[2]
