April 25, 2010 – Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin today renewed his call for the appointment of a special prosecutor or the involvement of the U.S. Attorney into the ongoing investigation of Central Falls Mayor Charles “Chuck” Moreau. Noting the article today in the Providence Journal, Wallin stated, “It is clear that this investigation is ongoing by the Rhode Island State Police for the corruption perpetrated on not only the people of Central Falls but all Rhode Islanders and businesses. What I still do not understand is why after almost three months since my initial call for this or a year since this first came to light in the media, Attorney General Lynch has taken no clear action on this matter.” Wallin noted that his original call for either the appointment of a special prosecutor or the involvement of the U.S. Attorney was on January 27th of this year.
Wallin continued, “While today’s article reveals much more of the details of what was occurring and the specifics about what was being charged to board up a house, the underlying public corruption reported is the same that we knew about over a year ago, and is the same that Attorney General Lynch said on the Lively Experiment with Arlene Violet months ago that he would take no action. And as far as I know, there it has stood.” Wallin added, “Attorney General Lynch owes it to the people of Rhode Island to inform them of what will occur in terms of an investigation. While the Rhode Island State Police have launched and are continuing to investigate, who will prosecute is a question that has not been answered.”
Wallin noted that these actions by Mayor Moreau’s longtime friend of severely over-charging for boarding up foreclosed homes under so-called “emergency powers” of Mayor Moreau was first reported by reporter Bill Rappleye in the beginning of 2009. “Attorney General Lynch was put on notice over a year ago about what was occurring,” Wallin stated, “but Attorney General Lynch took no action and therefore Mayor Moreau’s friend reaped millions at the expense of the people of Central Falls, the people of Rhode Island and both national and local businesses. Clearly, this was an attempt to take advantage of the mortgage crisis thinking that the big banks would just pay these outrageous liens no questions asked.”
Wallin reiterated that as Attorney General, he will have a Public Corruption Task Force staffed with seasoned prosecutors who will have primary responsibility for proactively and aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of public corruption. Noting that the people of Central Falls and others impacted by the public corruption in Central Falls did not call the Attorney General’s Office because they believed no action would be taken due to Mayor Moreau’s close friendship with Attorney General Lynch, Wallin stated that “under my administration, anyone who betrays the public trust will be investigated by my office, be it a republican, democrat, independent or moderate party member.” Wallin will create a 24-hour Corruption Tip-line to the Department of Attorney General so that the public can report claims to the state’s highest law enforcement office and not just the media. “I also make this pledge to Rhode Islanders, at the first sign of any conflict or apparent conflict, I will immediately appoint a special prosecutor who will independently lead the investigation – that way, Rhode Islanders will always know that their interests and rights are being protected, and not just when the target of the investigation is not a personal friend or political supporter of the Attorney General.”
Contact: 401-575-2633 or press [at] erikforag [dot] com
Committee to Elect Erik Wallin Attorney General
2212 Post Road
Warwick, RI 02886
David Cicilline’s staff is actively engaged in changing the Congressional District maps to favor him for the 2012 election. According to Channel 12, “Common Cause Rhode Island, and the campaigns of Republicans Doherty and John Loughlin, have seized on the fact the map would move roughly 125,000 people between Cicilline’s and Langevin’s districts when the latest Census required that only about 7,200 be moved.”
