SENATOR McKINNEY CALLS FOR AUDITORS TO EXAMINE ROWLAND EMPLOYMENT WITH STATE CONTRACTORS

Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore John McKinney (R-Fairfield) announced today that he has sent a letter to the state auditors requesting they investigate the circumstances surrounding the Klewin Group and the National Science Center Foundation’s employment of former Governor John Rowland as a “consultant” following his resignation last November. Senator McKinney is also asking for a complete review of all the business these groups have done with the state, for all of their current contracts to be suspended pending the outcome of this investigation, and for a prohibition on these groups seeking state contracts during the same period.

“I am truly shocked and angered that these two contractors, both of which received significant state contracts during the Rowland administration, would hire the former Governor under these very questionable circumstances,” said Senator McKinney. “There is at very least an appearance of impropriety and these groups must be held culpable should the auditors determine there were any ethical violations. Frankly, I question the common sense of any contractor that would hire the Governor following his very public fall from grace, but if we find this employment was willfully improper or unlawful, then we must ensure that these groups are prevented from ever again doing business with the state of Connecticut.”