Rowland pleads guilty to corruption charge
By Matt Apuzzo and John Christoffersen, Associated Press, 12/23/2004 14:54

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Former Gov. John G. Rowland completed a historic fall from power Thursday, admitting in federal court that he traded his office for more than $100,000 in private flights to Las Vegas, Vermont vacations and repairs to his vacation cottage from state businesses.

Driven from office by a corruption scandal in July, the once popular three-term Republican had steadfastly maintained that contractors received nothing in exchange for the gifts they lavished upon him.

With a single word Thursday, Rowland changed all that: ''Guilty,'' he told the court, his attorney's hand on his back as he spoke.

Rowland pleaded guilty to a single felony count and faces a likely sentence of 15-21 months in federal prison, lawyers said. Under a plea deal with federal prosecutors, he admitted being part of a conspiracy in the executive branch sometimes directing corruption, other times looking the other way.

''Obviously, mistakes have been made throughout the last few years and I accept responsibility for those,'' Rowland said after court. ''But I also ask the people of this state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service.''

By pleading guilty, Rowland avoids indictment in a sweeping racketeering case that ensnared his former co-chief of staff, Peter N. Ellef, and state contractor William Tomasso. That case would have exposed Rowland to ''a devastating amount of time,'' said his attorney, William F. Dow III.

''While we knew that this day might come, we were never really prepared for the reality of it,'' said Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who replaced Rowland. ''Today the state of Connecticut was humiliated, and I, as John Rowland's former running mate and colleague, feel personally betrayed. When I first heard the news, I felt like I was punched in the gut.''

Rowland owes the IRS more than $35,000 and faces up to $40,000 in fines, according to his plea deal. The agreement does not require Rowland, a former congressman, to testify against Ellef and Tomasso.

He pleaded to conspiracy to steal honest services a combination of mail and tax fraud that carries up to five years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed to ask for no more than two years and Dow said he'll ask for even less.

The plea ends the federal investigation of Rowland, but he could face state charges. The attorney general's office is investigating possible civil charges, and state prosecutors said Thursday they have not decided whether they'll pursue a criminal action.

Rowland arrived at court with the same mixture of confidence and anxiety that he showed at his resignation announcement in June. He nervously chewed the tip of his glasses at times, but answered the judge's question's assertively.

After signing his bail papers, Rowland turned to his wife and reassuringly mouthed the words ''All right.''

It was an understated end to a scandal that broke two years ago when the FBI investigation surfaced. Despite his assurance that any corruption in his administration stopped outside his door, a steady trickle of allegations eroded his high approval ratings and the public's trust.

The FBI uncovered gifts of Dom Perignon and Cuban cigars, a free canoe and a classic Mustang. Prosecutors questioned his poker buddies and former colleagues. New allegations surfaced almost daily, forcing Rowland to run from public events to avoid the media.

In the end, Rowland's fate was sealed by $15,549 in gifts from Tomasso and $91,493 in free airfare from the charter jet company Key Air. The company is identified only as ''Entity A'' in court documents, but details of his flights surfaced during Rowland's impeachment hearings.

A Key Air executive appealed to Rowland for tax help in 1999 or 2000, and Ellef ordered state officials to include in their legislative proposal a tax exemption for the company, according to court documents. Rowland signed the retroactive exemption in 2002.

Company officials declined to comment Thursday.

Rowland admitted ordering his transportation commissioner to sign contracts with Tomasso for construction work on an airport parking garage. He also admitted looking the other way when Ellef gave Tomasso the inside track on a $57 million contract to build a juvenile reform school.

''You joined, in some fashion, with this agreement. Is that true?'' U.S. District Judge Peter Dorsey asked.

''Yes,'' Rowland replied.

But what's missing from the plea deal is as telling as what's included. Rowland was not charged for selling his Washington D.C. condominium, through a front man, to a state contractor at a huge markup.

He does not have to answer charges that a contractor gave him cigars and champagne in exchange for access to state business. A jury will never hear how employees gave him a hot tub, free suits and cash to balance his checkbook.

Though he'll never answer these allegations in court, they killed his political career. Whenever Rowland tried to shore up his support with public apologies and news conferences, he only attracted more FBI scrutiny, exacerbating his problems.

He long ago lost the support of his Republican colleagues. Even President Bush, a longtime family friend who liked to call him ''Johnny,'' began keeping his distance.

Rowland is to be sentenced March 11. As a convicted felon, he will be unable to vote or hold public office.

Attorneys in the case have speculated for weeks that an indictment was imminent that would have added Rowland to the racketeering case. Attorneys for Ellef and Tomasso said they were surprised by Rowland's decision, saying it was a winnable case.

''It's the old story of the government exerting just tremendous pressure against a vulnerable individual so he can avoid being put to the expense of a trial,'' said Jack Fornaciari, Tomasso's lawyer.