Report: Former campaign manager facing probe

Citing multiple unnamed sources, the Hartford Courant reported that Joshua Nassi, the former congressional campaign manager for Christopher Donovan, is under scrutiny by federal prosecutors who allege smoke shops made campaign contributions to have legislation stamped out in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Last week, FBI agents arrested Robert Braddock Jr., of Meriden, and charged him with collecting thousands of dollars for Donovan”™s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives”™ Fifth District, which includes the Danbury area.

Donovan, the speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, says he had no knowledge of the scheme and has not been charged with wrongdoing. Donovan fired Braddock and Nassi, a former legislative aide who at the time was serving as his Fifth District campaign manager.

The Hartford Courant reported Thursday that Nassi is one of three co-conspirators with Braddock, along with a labor union activist and a former smoke shop employee. The Courant has not disclosed its sources, but reported that the state Democratic party”™s executive director Jonathan Harris said Nassi delivered one of the tainted checks to the party.

Nassi”™s Bridgeport-based attorney, William Bloss, declined comment to the Courant.

Nassi’s LinkedIn page lists him as a graduate of the University of Connecticut Law School, Western Connecticut State University and Fairfield High School.