An aide to Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland (R) pleaded guilty last year to criminal charges of accepting gold coins in exchange for steering state contracts. The aide reportedly buried the coins, but the digging in Connecticut has unearthed considerably more in weeks leading up to Rowlands June 21 resignation from office. State legislators say he took gifts from contractors, among others, and may have violated state laws.
A federal investigation of the governor, whose resignation took effect July 1, still is ongoing. Connecticut lawmakers who had weighed impeaching Rowland have also been tightening up rules on gifts and negotiated contractsknown throughout the scandal as no-bid contracts.