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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Deliberations have begun in the federal political corruption trial of former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland.
Rowland served 10 months in prison a decade ago for accepting illegal gifts while in office. He is accused of conspiring to work on two political campaigns while disguising those payments in business deals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mattei told the jury Thursday that Rowland tried to hide his political work because he knew that any candidate who openly hired him was handing his opponent a loaded gun and "saying shoot me."
Rowland's attorneys argue he did not propose anything illegal and that his work in 2012 for a nursing home company owned by a candidate's husband was substantive and legitimate.
Jurors deliberated briefly Thursday afternoon and will continue their talks Friday morning.
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