Raimondo calls Gordon Fox charges a sad day for Rhode Island

WPRO News

Governor Gina Raimondo said former Speaker Gordon Fox’s admittance to campaign finance violations and bribery is a dark day for the state, and that politicians will have to work hard to win Rhode Islander’s trust.

“It’s a very sad day for Rhode Island, what he did was inexcusable and unacceptable and the people of Rhode Island deserve honest government,” said Raimondo.

Fox pleaded guilty to receiving a $52,000 bribe while serving on the Providence Board of Licenses and taking transferring $108,000 from his campaign account into his personal funds.

Raimondo said Fox’s corruption charges gives her and others opportunities on how to toughen up ethics rules and campaign finance laws; however she says the fault does not lie with how the laws are written.

“In this case there was a law, and it was violated, and that’s what is so disappointing.”

The governor had been a supporter of Fox during his speakership and had campaigned with him. She believes she had contributed money to Fox’s campaign fund.

“Over the years I think we contributed a little bit of money and I’m disappointed,” said Raimondo, “There’s no excuse and he needs to be held accountable.”

The governor said the state’s leadership needs to follow through on promises to rebuild the state to restore the people’s trust in state government.

 

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