The man who ran Christopher Donovan”™s 2012 congressional campaign pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with a scheme to solicit campaign donations in exchange for a promise to stall a bill in the state legislature.
Joshua Nassi, a resident of Fairfield, on April 12 pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and to impede the FEC’s enforcement of federal campaign laws and faces up to five years in prison.
Federal prosecutors accused Nassi of conspiring with owners of roll-your-own smoke shops – businesses that sell loose smoking tobacco and cigarette-rolling materials – who were seeking to block legislation in the Connecticut General Assembly that could have proved harmful to their shops.
According to prosecutors, Nassi offered to work with the smoke shop owners to block any harmful legislation in exchange for their assistance in funneling donations to Donovan’s campaign.
On April 3, 2012, a committee of the General Assembly voted in favor of a bill that would have deemed roll-your-own smoke shops to be tobacco manufacturers, which would have subjected the owners to a substantial licensing fee and higher taxes.
However, the 2012 legislative session ended without a vote on the legislation by either chamber of the General Assembly.
At the time of the alleged activities, Donovan – who lost his congressional election to Rep. Elizabeth Esty – was serving as Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Donovan has not been accused of any wrongdoing and has denied any involvement.
In a statement released last week, Donovan said he was “deeply saddened” at Nassi’s actions, according to published reports. “I trusted Josh Nassi and he disappointed not only me, but also the people he served as one of my advisers,” Donovan said.
Well, we know he must be a Democrat because otherwise it would read “Republican Christopher Donovan”