NEW: RI Innovation Chief steps down less than a week after controversial interview with WPRO’s Tara Granahan

Richard Culatta, Rhode Island’s chief innovation officer announced to NBC 10 Tuesday night that he is leaving for a new job at an educational non-profit in Washington DC.

Despite telling NBC 10’s Bill Rappleye that the move was “in the works for weeks,” Culatta gave no indication that he would be moving on during an appearance under a week ago with WPRO’s Tara Granahan.

 

 

Granahan’s interview with Culatta, where he revealed that his position was self-funded through fundraising activities, raised concerns in the Rhode Island political community. RI GOP Chair Brandon Bell told Granahan that the funding for the office didn’t seem right and said his party would investigate.


The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity’s Mike Stenhouse also raised concerns with Granahan about the funding for the office, telling her “something is very wrong here.”


Tune in Wednesday morning for much more on this story with The Tara Granahan Show, starting at 9am on WPRO.

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