Federal prosecutors say that State Sen. Dennis Bradley (D-Bridgeport) stole state funds from the program intended to ensure clean elections funding.
Bradley and his 2018 campaign treasurer Jessica Martinez appeared in federal court in New Haven on Tuesday. Bradley is charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Martinez faces the same charges, plus two more-- false statements and false declaration to a grand jury.
Both pleaded not guilty.
The alleged fraud dates back to Bradley's announcement that he was running for Senate. He held an event at the Dolphin's Cove restaurant in Bridgeport on March 15th, 2018. In an indictment, prosecutors say that Bradley paid for that event with personal funds, disqualifying his campaign from receiving state financial assistance from the Citizen's Election Program (CEP).
The CEP is identified on ct.gov as "a voluntary program which provides clean elections financing to qualified candidates for statewide offices and the General Assembly."
Despite the disqualifying personal payments to Dolphin's Cove, Bradley and Martinez still applied for CEP assistance. The campaign received about $84,000 from the program. After Bradley won the 2018 Democratic primary for the Bridgeport seat, his general election campaign applied for another $96,000 in CEP funds. That request was denied.
In a 24-page indictment, prosecutors write, "The object of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud was to fraudulently obtain $179,850 in CEP grants in connection with the 2018 campaign for the (state Senate) seat... by making material misrepresentations concerning Bradley's compliance with state election law and the CEP's restrictions and requirements."
Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) has suspended Sen. Bradley from his committee assignment. “Based on the current available information regarding Senator Bradley," said Looney in a statement, "I have taken a first step to protect the integrity of the State Senate."
Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) writes, "The trust and faith that our constituents place in us must never be broken. Our court system will carefully weigh these allegations. In the meantime, it is incumbent upon Connecticut Democrats to take steps to rebuild the public’s trust.”