Shop

This ongoing investigation into corruption within the Rowland administration revealed a number of gifts to the governor from state employees and major state contractors. Among the findings: A contractor who renovated the governor's cottage and gave him use of vacation homes at nominal prices had received preferential treatment in obtaining state contracts; a businessman who made millions leasing office space to the state had paid his niece to rent a condo owned by the governor for three times the market rate; a law firm that gave Rowland free legal services had performed millions of dollars in work for the state. The governor resigned July 1 and on Dec. 23 pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.