GOP files ethics complaint against Governor Raimondo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — International Game Technology provides services to the state lottery.

Governor Raimondo wants to extend the company’s contract until 2043 without letting any other companies bid — all in the name of protecting jobs.

But Brandon Bell, the Rhode Island GOP’s former leader and current legal counsel, has problems with the IGT deal.

“It’s kind of a scary deal,” said Bell. “The fact that they didn’t go out to bid. The fact that she, in addition to her secret dealings, we find out that one of the people she’s in fact dealing with is a business associate.”

Bell is referring to Donald Sweitzer, the former head of the gaming company, who now works for the Democratic Governors Association, which Raimondo leads.

“We’re not saying that IGT shouldn’t ultimately get this contract,’ Bell said. “Certainly it should be less than 20 years. I think certainly public vetting would reveal that. But let it be a bidding process.”

Josh Block, a spokesman for Governor Raimondo, says the proposed legislation would go through proper vetting at the State House.

Block also called the ethics complaint a “partisan attack attempting to derail proposed legislation that would guarantee jobs for 1,100 Rhode Islanders.”

Charlene Lima, a Democrat and member of the House Oversight Committee says there is bipartisan concern.

“This deal is being done with no transparency, it’s being done with no accountability,” Lima said. “We could have another company come in who could preserve and increase the 1100 jobs.”

Lima is urging the governor to change course.

“Do the right thing and end this special interest deal, and put it out to bid to benefit the taxpayers of Rhode Island,” Lima said, “and also to protect Rhode Island’s reputation, because this deal is being watched globally.”

Bell says it could take several months if the ethics commission decides to investigate the potential violations.

Meanwhile lawmakers could decide in the fall whether to approve the extension.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019