More legal problems for Rowland

It was only a matter of time until prosecutors would go after ex-Gov. John Rowland for additional charges. It was strange how Rowland was able to get a pretty good paying consulting gig (15,000 per month) so soon after resigning and now it seems that his consulting work is coming back to haunt him.

As I reported before, Rowland knew thas day would come and has already put together a defense team as early as last month to deal with his new legal problems. The question you have to ask yourself (and the question on Rowland lawyer's mind) is can Rowland get a fair trial.

From the Danbury News-Times

Connecticut's chief state's attorney is seeking an arrest warrant for John G. Rowland, the attorney for the former governor said Monday.

[...]

He is a target of state prosecutors because of consulting work he accepted shortly after he resigned from office last year. Investigators are looking at the possibility his work for two companies, for a total of $15,000 per month, violated the state's "revolving door" laws. The laws prohibit a public official from working for a state contractor or participating as a lobbyist on a state issue for one year after leaving office.

R. Bartley Halloran, Rowland's attorney, said he does not know the specific charges, but believes they have to do with Rowland's employment after leaving office. Rowland did consulting work for a building contractor and a science foundation.

"We feel that on the facts of the law that he has committed no crime and our great worry would be whether or not he could get a fair trial," Halloran said.

{...}

Shortly after he resigned, Rowland got consulting jobs with two companies, both state contractors, that paid him a total of $15,000 a month.

A lawyer for Klewin Building Co. told lawmakers that Klewin hired Rowland to set up meetings on bond issues and meet with developers for Indian casinos in New York.

Rowland's contract with the Georgia-based National Science Center Foundation and Connecticut's technical school system was intended to expand a pilot program that used computers to connect math skills to specific trades.

Sen. Andrew Roraback, a Goshen Republican whose district includes Brookfield and New Milford, said Rowland's lobbying work was surprising considering he just resigned from office under threat of impeachment and still faced a federal criminal probe.

"A lot of people were shocked to learn the governor had taken employment in any capacity that would involve interacting with the state of Connecticut," Roraback said. "I thought if that is not illegal it should be illegal. If it was illegal, he'll face the consequences."