Panel looks at removing top CT prosecutor
Following a report that questioned the credibility of Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo, the state’s Criminal Justice Commission on Wednesday will weigh the unprecedented step of initiating proceedings to remove the state’s top prosecutor.
At the center of that potential showdown is Colangelo, who was appointed by the commission in 2020 and who has refused to resign in the face of mounting scrutiny over an investigation into his hiring of a top state budget official’s daughter while seeking raises for himself and other top prosecutors.
While a vote on how to proceed with the allegations against Colangelo is also scheduled for tomorrow, Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, the commission’s chair, said Tuesday that any decision to move forward with removal of the chief’s state’s attorney will set in motion a process that will likely take months and strain the commission’s already limited resources.
The commission was established through a 1984 amendment to the state’s constitution to ensure the independence of prosecutors, but has never before attempted to remove a sitting chief state’s attorney, McDonald said.
Connecticut is one of just three states — along with New Jersey and Alaska — where the top prosecutor is appointed instead of elected. That appointment is made by the commission in Connecticut, not the governor.
To help provide direction to the commission, McDonald asked Attorney General William Tong’s office last week to advise the commissioners
on the laws and regulations surrounding a potential removal process.
If the commissioners decide to move forward with charges against Colangelo, McDonald said the commission would require a “not insignificant” boost in resources to make up for a lack of staffing and budget.
“The situation is unfortunate all around,” McDonald said Tuesday. “The process we are about to undertake is unprecedented. We need to proceed as expeditiously as possible but with cognizance of the fact that we have to safeguard the due process rights that the legislature has adopted through regulations.”
A report into allegations of nepotism at the chief state’s attorney's office was released last week by former U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy, now of the law firm Day Pitney. It found that Colangelo and then deputy budget secretary Kontantinos Diamantis “lacked credibility,” based on their accounts of how Diamantis’ daughter wound up working as an executive assistant in Colangelo’s office.
The controversy deepened after it was revealed last week that federal investigators are looking into potential criminal wrongdoing involving school construction contracts that Diamantis oversaw in addition to his budget duties.
Colangelo and Diamantis have both denied any wrongdoing. However, in the wake of the report and revelations of an FBI investigation Gov. Ned Lamont offered a blistering critique of Colangelo, saying if it were up to his office, “he’d be gone.”
When asked on Tuesday whether he expected the controversy to spread to other areas of state government, Lamont said that to the best of his knowledge there will not be new revelations.
“We’ve had a couple of investigations,” Lamont told reporters. “You know the feds are taking a look at this, we’re cooperating any way we can. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
Lamont’s top opponent in this year’s gubernatorial race, Republican Bob Stefanowksi, took to Twitter Tuesday to add his voice to those calling for Colangelo’s removal.
“It’s been a week of Connecticut residents questioning the ethics of the state’s top prosecutor, and that is a week too long,” Stefanowksi said. “It’s time for Mr. Colangelo to resign immediately.”
The release of Twardy’s report prompted the commission to schedule a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss “personnel matters related to the Chief State's Attorney,” according to an agenda posted online.
McDonald said Tuesday that he had spoken with Colangelo regarding the controversy, but declined to provide more specifics on what the two discussed.
As of Tuesday evening, Colangelo had resisted calls for his resignation. A spokeswoman for his office did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Diamantis, who was initially placed on leave by Lamont’s administration, retired from his role.
Meanwhile, some legislative leaders said Tuesday that they would await to see what actions the commission takes Wednesday before wading further into the controversy.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D- Norwalk, said that lawmakers were focused on the legislative session also slated to begin on Wednesday and that he had faith in the commission to fulfill its constitutional obligation. House Speaker Matt Ritter, D- Hartford, and Senate President ProTempore Martin Looney, DNew Haven, did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
“I think everybody’s troubled by the allegations and the report,” into Colangelo’s office, Duff said.
Both of the leaders of the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee on Tuesday said they believed it would be difficult for Colangelo to continue his work as the state’s top prosecutor in the wake of the allegations. However, they were split on calling for him to resign.
The House committee chair, State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D- Bridgeport, said “it would be in everyone’s best interest for him to step down.”
Meanwhile the Senate leader of the committee,
Sen. Gary Winfield, DNew Haven, said it would ultimately be up to Colangelo to resign or face the possibility of being removed from office.
“If I were in that situation, I would probably consider it heavily before tomorrow,” Winfield said.
Even the House Republican Leader, Rep. Vincent Candelora, R- North Branford, said Tuesday that he would leave the “personnel matter” of Colangelo’s position up to the commission, while placing the larger liability for the scandal with the governor’s office, which appointed Diamantis to the budget office.