RI Leaders react to charges against Gordon Fox

By: Samantha Lavien
Slavien@abc6.com
Twitter: @SLavienABC6

Many state leaders in Rhode Island are outraged after learning that the former Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Gordon Fox will go to prison. On Tuesday Fox plead guilty to charges of bribery, wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

“It’s a very sad day for Rhode Island what he did was inexcusable and unacceptable,” said Governor Similar Raimondo.

“It’s a black eye. It’s a black eye to the political reputation of every politician. I think it’s a black eye to this building,” said State Rep. Joe Trillo.

Leaders including current Speaker Mattiello who replaced Fox day’s after the FBI raided his office and home, say the challenge now is re-building trust among Rhode Islanders.

“My job is to move on from that, to see that chapter close, move on, serve the citizens of the state move our economy forward,” said Mattiello. “I’m upset. I believe the former speaker dishonored himself, his family and certainly the citizens of the state of Rhode Island.”

And, in the aftermath of the charges the non-profit group Common Cause is calling for changes in the oversight of state government.

The group wants to require routine auditing of campaign finance filings and for the state ethics commission to have full jurisdiction over the General Assembly.

“I do support ethics oversight of the general assembly. But, truthfully what happened here was he broke the law, there were clear laws,” said Raimondo.

(C) WLNE 2015