Gov. John G. Rowland will announce his resignation Monday night, amid a federal corruption investigation and a growing move to impeach him, his lawyer told The Associated Press.
The governor was planning to announce his resignation on a live television address to the state at 6 p.m., lawyer William Dow III said Monday. Dow would not specify when the resignation would take effect, but an administration source speaking on condition of anonymity said the resignation would be effective at noon July 1.
Rowland didn’t have a lot of choice. Late last week, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that he had to testify before a legislative impeachment committee. He was, as the AP noted, going to be the first sitting chief executive in U.S. history ordered to appear before a legislative body.
If you’re new to the story, it started with a routine political problem. Rowland, like a handful of the state’s wealthiest families, has a beautiful lake-front cottage in an exclusive area of Connecticut. A few questions were raised when the cottage was suddenly refurbished with a new kitchen, a cathedral ceiling, and a hot tub with a water view.
Rowland, in his third term as governor, insisted that he paid for the home improvements himself and that any suggestions that he received special favors because of his position were unfounded. There was a flaw in his explanation: He was lying. Badly.
In fact, he didn’t pay for any of the improvements; they came from a prominent state contractor and were purchased by several government aides.
About a week after his categorical denial of wrongdoing, with irrefutable evidence mounting that he didn’t pay for his cottage’s improvements, Rowland came clean and admitted that he lied. He said the improvements to his home were actually “gifts.” The U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI launched investigations, and shortly thereafter, the state legislature began impeachment proceedings — with full support from Connecticut Republicans.
Rowland’s resignation will obviously eliminate the need for his impeachment hearings to continue, but legally, federal investigators may still bring charges against him. His political problems may be over, but his legal problems continue.
In the meantime, Rowland’s resignation will elevate GOP Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell to governor. She will likely serve out the remainder of Rowland’s term, which ends in January 2007.
Oh, and I guess Bush will need a new campaign chairman for the state of Connecticut, as well.