Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, whose promising political profession was upended by a corruption scandal and two federal jail stints, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump.
The Republican governor, who served from 1995 till 2004, was amongst quite a few distinguished figures the Republican president granted clemency Wednesday, together with former New York Congressman Michael Grimm, additionally a Republican, and actuality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley.
A White Home official confirmed the pardon however spoke solely on background to debate issues that haven’t but been made public.
“I’m very humbled and deeply appreciative,” Rowland stated in an announcement to WTNH and different information retailers in Connecticut. “It is a great closing decision.”
As soon as the nation’s youngest governor, Rowland was elected 3 times to the state’s highest workplace earlier than resigning on the age of 47 amid a federal corruption investigation into items and favors that he accepted from state contractors and a rising transfer by state legislators to question him from workplace.
Rowland served 10 months in a federal jail camp after pleading responsible in 2004 to 1 depend of conspiracy to steal sincere companies.
It was a surprising fall from grace for a person as soon as thought-about a rising star in nationwide Republican politics.
The Waterbury native served three phrases in Congress, was chairman of the nationwide Republican Governors Affiliation and a pal of former President George H.W. Bush. He was elected governor in 1994 on the age of 37.
After ending his jail sentence, Rowland discovered new life as a preferred AM radio commentator.
However in 2014 he was convicted of conspiring to cover his work on political campaigns and was sentenced to 30 months in federal jail. That conviction was upheld in June 2016.
A pardon doesn’t erase the very fact of the conviction, nevertheless it does restore rights and privileges that have been misplaced because of the conviction, akin to the best to vote or run for public workplace, in line with the Division of Justice.
Earlier than he was governor, Rowland was an insurance agent with the family-owned company in Waterbury. The national database of insurance coverage producer licensing signifies his license expired in 2005 and its present standing is that it shouldn’t be renewed. World Insurance coverage Associates acquired Martin & Rowland Insurance coverage, Inc. in April 2020.
Related Press reporter Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Photograph: Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland leaves federal appeals courtroom in New York on March 16, 2016. (AP Photograph/Bebeto Matthews, File)
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