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Corruption Scandal Surrounding One of Connecticut's Most Popular Governors
Aired January 05, 2004 - 05:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A corruption scandal surrounding one of Connecticut's most popular governors has people talking of impeachment.
CNN's Adaora Udoji reports from Hartford.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. JOHN ROWLAND (R), CONNECTICUT: I will never ever let you down. The best is yet to come.
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Until recently, Republican John Rowland was Connecticut's most popular governor, serving an unprecedented third term. Now, Rowland finds himself amid scandal, threatening to drive him out of office.
ROWLAND: You know, I think we tell our children there's no excuses for lying. And there's no excuses for me, either.
UDOJI: Last month, the governor apologized for lying about who paid for a new hot tub and other luxury renovations to his family's summer cottage. It turns out Rowland did not pay for it all. Controversial donors helped, including big contractors doing millions of dollars of business with the state.
JIM AMMAN (D-CT), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: It's beyond just apologies now. This governor, like I said, is the most ethically challenged administration in the history of the State of Connecticut.
UDOJI: Democratic House Majority Leader Jim Amman sees a disturbing pattern. Before the hot tub incident, the state's ethics commission fined the governor twice for accepting concert ticket upgrades and discounted vacations. Then, Rowland's former deputy chief of staff pled guilty last year to taking bribes from companies looking for state business.
Despite his apology and denials...
ROWLAND: I don't try to influence any contracts.
UDOJI: There are calls for the governor's resignation. Democrats controlling the legislature may try to impeach him.
MOIRA LYONS (D-CT), HOUSE SPEAKER: What he has not answered and what we need an answer to is how can you continue to hold the public trust? UDOJI: To remove the governor from office, Democrats would need the help of Republicans. As it stands, they are not ready to turn their backs on him yet.
ROBERT WARD (R-CT), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Keep in mind, he has not been accused of any crime and we would not ordinarily remove someone from office who has not been accused of a crime.
ROWLAND: I am not stepping down.
UDOJI: The once untouchable governor is determined to ride out the storm until his term ends in 2006. But added to impeachment talk, there's still an ongoing federal investigation into corruption here at the state capital.
(on camera): And Rowland faces a skeptical public, with one local poll reporting a 30 percent approval rating, an all time low.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, Hartford, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Popular Governors>
Aired January 5, 2004 - 05:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A corruption scandal surrounding one of Connecticut's most popular governors has people talking of impeachment.
CNN's Adaora Udoji reports from Hartford.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. JOHN ROWLAND (R), CONNECTICUT: I will never ever let you down. The best is yet to come.
ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Until recently, Republican John Rowland was Connecticut's most popular governor, serving an unprecedented third term. Now, Rowland finds himself amid scandal, threatening to drive him out of office.
ROWLAND: You know, I think we tell our children there's no excuses for lying. And there's no excuses for me, either.
UDOJI: Last month, the governor apologized for lying about who paid for a new hot tub and other luxury renovations to his family's summer cottage. It turns out Rowland did not pay for it all. Controversial donors helped, including big contractors doing millions of dollars of business with the state.
JIM AMMAN (D-CT), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: It's beyond just apologies now. This governor, like I said, is the most ethically challenged administration in the history of the State of Connecticut.
UDOJI: Democratic House Majority Leader Jim Amman sees a disturbing pattern. Before the hot tub incident, the state's ethics commission fined the governor twice for accepting concert ticket upgrades and discounted vacations. Then, Rowland's former deputy chief of staff pled guilty last year to taking bribes from companies looking for state business.
Despite his apology and denials...
ROWLAND: I don't try to influence any contracts.
UDOJI: There are calls for the governor's resignation. Democrats controlling the legislature may try to impeach him.
MOIRA LYONS (D-CT), HOUSE SPEAKER: What he has not answered and what we need an answer to is how can you continue to hold the public trust? UDOJI: To remove the governor from office, Democrats would need the help of Republicans. As it stands, they are not ready to turn their backs on him yet.
ROBERT WARD (R-CT), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Keep in mind, he has not been accused of any crime and we would not ordinarily remove someone from office who has not been accused of a crime.
ROWLAND: I am not stepping down.
UDOJI: The once untouchable governor is determined to ride out the storm until his term ends in 2006. But added to impeachment talk, there's still an ongoing federal investigation into corruption here at the state capital.
(on camera): And Rowland faces a skeptical public, with one local poll reporting a 30 percent approval rating, an all time low.
Adaora Udoji, CNN, Hartford, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Popular Governors>
