Governor Carcieri Statement on the Ethics Commission Resolution and Settlement

11-18-2008

The Office of the Governor today issued the following statement regarding the resolution and settlement before the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. The Rhode Island Ethics Commission and Governor Carcieri have agreed to a civil penalty in the amount of $2,500.

Mitigating factors found the Governor did not intend to violate the Code of Ethics by employing Ms. Accaputo. The Governor also acknowledges that once the nepotism regulation was clarified in 2007, and subsequently brought to his attention, the employment of his niece-in-law within the Governor’s office was then in violation of RI General Laws 36-14-5(d) and Ethics Commission Regulation 36-14-5005. The Ethics Commission accepted the terms of the settlement as a full and complete resolution of the matter.

Ms. Accaputo is no longer employed by the State of Rhode Island, having submitted a letter of resignation effective Friday, November 14, 2008.

The Governor considers the matter closed and does not plan to comment further.