Attorney Erik Wallin, Expected Republican Candidate for Attorney General, Decries Continued Inaction Against Corruption and Calls for Recusal of Attorney General in Landfill Case
October 28, 2009 – Erik Wallin, a Rhode Island attorney, former State Prosecutor and expected Republican Candidate for Attorney General, today decried the continued inaction against those responsible for corruption at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), the state’s landfill, for wasting $75 million in taxpayer money, along with an employee allegedly falsifying his timesheet and mileage reimbursement forms. “Clearly, getting to the bottom of what happened at the landfill and what is happening there now, is on the minds of most Rhode Islanders, including the Governor, the General Treasurer and myself. However, my concern is continued inaction by our Attorney General.”
Attorney Wallin noted that the audit that has yielded no prosecutions and the recently discovered no show employee continues to be of serious concern to Rhode Islanders. “Aggressively combating corruption is something an Attorney General must have as a top priority. Unfortunately, when the Governor ordered the audit, and even before that, there was little attention from the Attorney General, and now, as the General Treasurer seeks ways to recoup some of the lost tens of millions of dollars, our Attorney General credits the creativity but seemingly dismisses the idea citing legal challenges and saying that it smacks of politics,” Attorney Wallin stated in reference to Friday’s article in the Providence Journal. “Inaction seems to be a recurring theme,” Attorney Wallin added.
With new details about the Attorney General’s lobbying efforts on behalf of the landfill, Attorney Wallin expressed his outrage. “Without question, at the very least, this required immediate disclosure by the Attorney General. Transparency for an Attorney General is paramount as the state’s top law enforcement officer, and Rhode Island deserved to know from him of his past dealings with the landfill, not from the ProJo. How could a decision by the Attorney General, a past lobbyist for the landfill, not to prosecute anyone, not raise an eyebrow – that’s why transparency is so important.” Attorney Wallin added, “It is time for the appointment of a special prosecutor to follow through on the investigation of the landfill and the recent revelation of the landfill employee with an alleged ‘no-show’ job.”
Attorney Wallin has been consistently seeking answers to decisions made with regard to prosecutions of those involved at the landfill stemming from the audit. “Rhode Islanders are entitled to answers to the Attorney General’s statement that no criminal prosecution will occur – such as, what specific crimes were considered to be prosecuted; why was it the Governor that first shed light on such illegal activity; how will you prevent this in the future,” Attorney Wallin stated. And concerning the recent no-show job, Attorney Wallin noted that he has been calling for an immediate investigation. “If I were the Attorney General, my public corruption task force would have been at the landfill the day the ProJo contacted the office for comment, if not earlier. I certainly would not have waited until the Sunday article was published or waited until public pressure increased for action. I’m glad he is finally outraged by something at the landfill, but based on his past involvement, he should recuse himself from all matters at the landfill.”
Attorney Wallin has traveled the state with the message that being committed to fighting corruption requires leadership from the Attorney General. Attorney Wallin has proposed a Public Corruption Task Force, staffed with seasoned prosecutors, investigators and a forensic auditor to immediately initiate an investigation if corruption is suspected to prevent the statute of limitations from being the shield for those who betray the public trust to hide behind. In addition, Attorney Wallin has proposed an Attorney General 24-hr corruption hotline so that Rhode Islanders can provide information and/or tips.
Media Contact: 401-575-2633 or Press [at] ErikforAG [dot] com
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Congratulations to Will Ricci
Will, the driving force behind this blog was recently re-elected to his post of Northeast Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies. This is the parent of the RI Republican Assembly.