Former CT Governor’s Trial Set for Sept. 3

Former Gov. John G. Rowland’s trial for alleged campaign-related crimes is set for Sept. 3 in New Haven.

Jury selection will begin Aug. 5, according to the Hartford Courant, and U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton will preside.

Arterton decided prospective jurors must submit a questionnaire, and Rowland’s lawyers are allowed limited individual questioning away from the public, as per their request, the Courant reported. Arterton also allowed four extra alternate jurors, at the lawyers’ request.

However, she did not grant the lawyers extra challenges of prospective jurors, according to the Courant.

Rowland pleaded not guilty to charges of two counts of falsifying records in a federal investigation, one count of conspiracy, two counts of causing false statements to be made to the FEC and two counts of causing illegal campaign contributions, according to CBS New York.

“Rowland is accused of drafting phony contracts in an effort to disguise the nature of his political consulting work,” the Courant reported.

Rowland’s lawyers filed arguments Monday to have the case dismissed, saying some of the charges against Rowland are unconstitutional, according to News 8.

They say campaign finance restrictions are unconstitutional, and some limits only apply to campaign contributions, but not expenditures, News 8 reported.

Rowland served as the governor of Connecticut until 2004, when he resigned in the midst of a federal investigation, according to the New York Times. He pleaded guilty to a corruption-related charge and spent 10 months in prison.