Norm Pattis Issues an Ominous Warning in Feds’ Waterbury Investigation.

Attorney and columnist Norm Pattis combines both his jobs in a stinging Connecticut Law Tribune piece on the federal grand jury investigation of criminal justice in Waterbury.  Mr. Pattis represents Martin Minnella, a Waterbury criminal defense attorney, whose relationship with State’s Attorney John Connelly is the subject of federal investigators’ scrutiny.  Pattis, whose column is behind the Law Tribune’s pay wall, proclaims and warns, “I rarely write so directly and openly about a case I am handling. But I write about this case because I believe the investigation presents a clear and present danger to the bar of this state. I write to say to those among the Waterbury bar using the pending federal grand jury investigation of Connelly and Marty to settle personal and petty scores of their own: Shame on you.”

Attorneys Pattis and Minnella are feeling aggrieved by the investigation, which has included federal agents meeting with former–and perhaps current–clients of Minnella.  The column is a Valentine to Minnella’s legal career and minimizes the Minnella-Connelly friendship. The column confirms that investigators are bringing to bear their considerable resources.  Pattis pooh-poohs their efforts, saying his instincts tell him they will be fruitless.

The column is probably not a way to get Minnella out of the line of fire.  These sorts of broadsides usually cause investigators to employ more intense measures.  Pattis’ claim that he’ll see to it the investigation fails to nab his client sounds like a dare.  A risky declaration to issue, as is the assertion that “there is a good reason to believe the feds are playing footsie with a former associate fired for taking liberty with firm funds and having potential tax issues all his own.”  That appears several sentences after Pattis accuses the feds of trafficking in veiled threats and salacious rumors.

A saga is taking on the well-worn path from Waterbury to the federal courthouse in New Haven. Substantial developments are imminent.  United States Attorney David Fine knows that opportunities like this do not often occur.  He’ll keep the bloodhounds on the trail as the stench scent grows stronger.