SEN. McKINNEY’S RESPONSE TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY RETURNING ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTION

“The standard to apply is whether we’re compliant with the law, and we’ll hold ourselves to that standard,” Governor Malloy told reporters yesterday about the Connecticut Democratic Party’s fundraising efforts.

Today, in an admission of guilt, the Connecticut Democratic Party returned a $10,000 contribution they accepted illegally from Edward Snider, the chief executive officer of Comcast-Spectacor whose subsidiaries include Global Spectrum, a company that holds the state contract to manage the XL Center and Rentschler Field.

Upon learning the news, State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) said, “In his own words, the governor established a low ethical standard for his fundraising efforts yesterday. And today, he and his party have admitted that they have failed to meet even their own low standard. They have broken campaign finance laws.

“Returning the donation they accepted illegally does little to dispel the perception that there is a ‘pay for play’ system alive and well in the governor’s office and the State Democratic Party. More questions need to be answered. Chief among them: who is soliciting these state contractors for campaign donations and how are the solicitations being carried out? We’ll keep asking these questions until the governor gives the people of Connecticut a satisfactory answer.”