Anatomy of a Probe: Community Health Center Subpoena Shows Growing Corruption Investigation. Feds’ Demand Includes Documents on Wyman, Barnes.
Federal authorities served a comprehensive subpoena on Community Health Care, Inc., in early December, Daily Ructions can report. The demand for documents further reveals the expanding federal investigation into the connection between campaign fundraising and state bonds. The probe began when federal authorities launched a sting operation last year that targeted legislation regulating roll-your-own tobacco shops and contributions to the congressional campaign of then-Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan.
Federal criminal investigators have widened their hunt for government corruption to the murky world of state bonding projects and the practice of larding public funds on private enterprises. The federal authorities appear to be trying to untangle the webs of influence that have state taxpayers on the hook for billions in grants to those who win favor among the powerful.
Community Health Center, Inc., has received millions in state bond and other funds. Its CEO, Mark Masselli, served as chairman of Donovan’s campaign finance committee, Daily Ructions reported this week. The subpoena, dated December 3, 2012, ordered CHC to comply with federal investigators’ demands for documents by December 28, 2012. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Mattei made the request.
The subpoena applies to the period January 2, 2010 through the present. It requires CHC to produce “All documents and records within the custody and control of Community Health Center, Incorporated (CHC) relating to the following: Christopher G. Donovan, The U.S. Congressional Campaign of Christopher Donovan, The Office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Connecticut General Assembly, Linda Kowalski, The Kowalski Group, LLC, Senate Bill 25, Senate Bill 1006, Senate Bill 1008, State bonding, State legislation, Robert Braddock, Sara Waterfall, Joshua Nassi, Laura Jordan, Mildred Torres-Ferguson, Nancy Wyman, Ben Barnes, Elizabeth Boukus, [and] Gary Turco.”
Asked Thursday if it had complied with the subpoena, CHC, through its crisis manager, stated in an email, that it “has been responsive to any and all requests by authorities. DUE TO THE ONGOING NATURE OF THIS MATTER THIS IS THE ONLY STATEMENT WE WILL BE GIVING.” [Emphasis provided by CHC.]