PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The chairman of Rhode Island’s powerful House finance committee has resigned amid a federal investigation into “some personal legal problems,” another top lawmaker told the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Democratic Rep. Raymond Gallison announced he was resigning his seat and with it, his chairmanship, in a brief letter Tuesday to Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.
Mattiello somberly informed lawmakers of the scandal in a public address on the floor of the House.
“I’m outraged,” he said. “I condemn whatever bad behavior there was, though I don’t know specifically what it was.”
Gallison’s lawyer, Anthony Traini, declined to elaborate on why he quit.
Gallison had represented Bristol and Portsmouth since 2000 and was in the final weeks of presiding over the House’s annual deliberations over the $9 billion state budget.
Mattiello told reporters Tuesday evening he has no reason to believe any alleged wrongdoing extended into the Rhode Island State House or that any other lawmakers were involved.
The speaker said he grew suspicious and asked to meet with Gallison several days ago after the finance chairman unexpectedly canceled a planned political fundraiser. The two lawmakers and Mattiello’s chief of staff met Sunday afternoon at an ice cream parlor in Cranston, where they agreed that Gallison should resign.
“He said there was a problem and that it was serious and that it was bothering him,” Mattiello said.
Gallison confided that he was under federal criminal investigation pertaining to his personal or business finances, Mattiello said. Gallison works as a lawyer in Fall River, Massachusetts, and also helps lead a Providence education organization that has obtained state grants.
He’s run into some trouble before, agreeing to pay a small fine to the Rhode Island Ethics Commission earlier this year after misreporting some of his campaign finances. He settled with the same commission over questions of misreporting his income in 2007.
After a day of rumors, Mattiello broke the news of Gallison’s resignation to fellow Democrats in a closed-door caucus meeting late Tuesday afternoon. He immediately appointed another Democrat, Newport Rep. Marvin Abney, to take over as finance chairman.
Republican lawmakers and some Democrats expressed frustration about what appeared to be just the latest of several scandals that have tarnished the state’s General Assembly in recent years.
Mattiello and Gallison both rose to their leadership positions during the vacuum created in 2014 when House Speaker Gordon Fox resigned amid a criminal probe. Fox is now in prison.
“I’ve had too many of these kinds days in the six years I’ve been here,” said Rep. Michael Chippendale, a Foster Republican. “It’s another black eye on our chamber. As a member of this chamber, it’s embarrassing. It’s shameful.”
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said earlier in the day that she also was disappointed and spoke generally to reporters about how dishonesty and wrongdoing in public officials is unacceptable.
She called it a distraction from ongoing budget negotiations but added, “let’s let this unfold and let’s see what the actual details and allegations are.”
She referred questions to State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell, who also wouldn’t comment.
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