PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Latest on a campaign aide to the state House speaker being indicted on a charge of money laundering (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
A lawyer for a campaign aide to the state House speaker says his client was used as a “fall guy” and is anxious to clear his name at a public trial.
Rhode Island’s attorney general announced Friday that Jeff Britt is charged with a felony count of money laundering and misdemeanor charge of making a prohibited campaign contribution.
Neronha says it’s alleged that Britt, while working as a paid campaign consultant to Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s 2016 re-election campaign, met with defeated Republican primary candidate Shawna Lawton and funded a $1,000 contribution made through a third party to her, to pay for a mailer endorsing Mattiello instead of her party’s nominee.
Britt’s attorney, Robert Corrente, says evidence will show the Mattiello campaign set up Britt as a fall guy.
Mattiello’s campaign spokeswoman says the current proceedings don’t involve the speaker.
1:15 p.m.
Rhode Island’s attorney general says a campaign aide to the House speaker has been indicted on a charge of money laundering.
Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha said Friday that Jeff Britt is charged with a felony count of money laundering and misdemeanor charge of making a prohibited campaign contribution.
Britt’s attorney, Robert Corrente, didn’t immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.
During Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s 2016 re-election campaign, a mailer said a Republican opponent, Shawna Lawton, endorsed Mattiello instead of her party’s nominee.
The state Republican Party filed a complaint, alleging Lawton didn’t properly disclose who funded it and claiming Lawton and Mattiello illegally coordinated through Britt, then a Mattiello campaign aide.
The elections board dismissed contempt proceedings against Britt last year but referred the case to the attorney general.
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