Still Missing CT - Jennifer Dulos, 50, New Canaan, 24 May 2019 *ARRESTS* #55

[Tink56]

“The plaintiff’s petition for a writ of mandamus is nothing more than an impermissible collateral attack on the sealing order imposed” by Heller, Sheriden said in the ruling.

Judge denies transcripts from last Dulos divorce hearing before disappearance

Too bad CT doesn't have a nuisance rule about frivolous motions...JS knew there was no chance for this sneak around for something he hoped to use as publicity....lots of SMH this morning...

 

[Jmoose]

Doesn’t look like Diamantis checked NP’s success rate before hiring him-if he did, he would have hired somebody else.

 

[pernickety]

The e-edition is free because of the blizzard.

https://digital.olivesoftware.com/olive/odn/registercitizen/default.aspx

CT’s top prosecutor denies wrongdoing as hiring probe continues

By John Moritz

Matthew Brown / Hearst Conn. Media
Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo has denied wrongdoing after emails show he sought raises for his office “to keep them happy so they don’t oppose me at reappointment.”

Connecticut’s top prosecutor has denied accusations of wrongdoing as an investigation continues into whether he hired the daughter of a former key state budget official to get his deputies raises as a way to shore up support for his reappointment.

Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. is under investigation for the hiring as emails have surfaced that he sent to Konstantinos Diamantis, a former top state budget official who has since retired, seeking raises for prosecutors with supervisory roles within his office, according to documents obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Around the time the emails were sent, Colangelo hired Diamantis’ daughter, Anastasia, for a $99,000 administrative job in his office, the documents show.

Gov. Ned Lamont ordered the investigation late last year amid questions about whether the hire was related to Colangelo’s efforts to seek adjustments to the salary structure for his top prosecutors.

Top prosecutor's fate will await completion of investigation, judge says

Was there any more of the Hearst article? I couldn't find it in the e-edition. That part you posted doesn't say who's investigating the matter. Ct Mirror's article says the original state committee that was investigating it (which apparently includes CT Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, former counsel to Gov. Dan Malloy and appointee of DM) says the matter is too complicated for them--and then the matter was referred to an Attorney Twardy in a private law firm.

 

[jakat]

Try this one...

Lamont’s office did not respond to questions about where the investigation stands.

CT’s top prosecutor denies wrongdoing as probe continues into hiring of budget official’s daughter

 

[jakat]

There is this, too, but it's earlier, December 4, 2021.

"The administration of Gov. Ned Lamont has retained former U.S. Attorney Stanley A. Twardy Jr. and two other lawyers from the firm of Day Pitney to investigate “possible improprieties by state employees and possibly others.”

CT probes top prosecutor’s hiring of budget official’s daughter

 

[MollyDDD]

The e-edition is free because of the blizzard.

Local news from your trusted source. Subscribe now. | Register Citizen

CT’s top prosecutor denies wrongdoing as hiring probe continues

By John Moritz

Matthew Brown / Hearst Conn. Media
Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo has denied wrongdoing after emails show he sought raises for his office “to keep them happy so they don’t oppose me at reappointment.”

Connecticut’s top prosecutor has denied accusations of wrongdoing as an investigation continues into whether he hired the daughter of a former key state budget official to get his deputies raises as a way to shore up support for his reappointment.

Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. is under investigation for the hiring as emails have surfaced that he sent to Konstantinos Diamantis, a former top state budget official who has since retired, seeking raises for prosecutors with supervisory roles within his office, according to documents obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Around the time the emails were sent, Colangelo hired Diamantis’ daughter, Anastasia, for a $99,000 administrative job in his office, the documents show.

Gov. Ned Lamont ordered the investigation late last year amid questions about whether the hire was related to Colangelo’s efforts to seek adjustments to the salary structure for his top prosecutors.

So in six years, his daughter went from receptionist ($25K) to executive assistant ($99K) and with zero experience/training?

 

[pernickety]

So in six years, his daughter went from receptionist ($25K) to executive assistant ($99K) and with zero experience/training?

And kept her former job too.

"Aside from being second-in-command at the Office of Policy and Management, Kosta Diamantis was the director of the Office of School Construction Grants and Review.


Emails obtained by CT Mirror through a freedom of information request filed the day after Diamantis was removed not only showed that Colangelo had been lobbying for raises for his division but that Anastasia Diamantis long had a part-time job with a school-construction management company.


They showed that Anastasia Diamantis, a state employee since 2015, worked for the school construction company for several years and kept the part-time job for at least 14 months after going to work for Colangelo on July 3, 2020. The school job was not on her resume, but Colangelo said he was aware of it."

Top prosecutor’s fate will await completion of investigation, judge says

 

[Jmoose]

So in six years, his daughter went from receptionist ($25K) to executive assistant ($99K) and with zero experience/training?

AND…Colangelo didn’t end up getting those raises for people, either. This couldn’t possibly have been worth it! I will say, in all fairness, that $25k/yr sounds pretty low and she likely developed at least some skills in 6 years, but it pretty much stinks out loud, doesn’t it?

 

[MollyDDD]

AND…Colangelo didn’t end up getting those raises for people, either. This couldn’t possibly have been worth it! I will say, in all fairness, that $25k/yr sounds pretty low and she likely developed at least some skills in 6 years, but it pretty much stinks out loud, doesn’t it?

You’re probably right, I was just guesstimating the salary.

 

[sds71]

Top prosecutor's fate will await completion of investigation, judge says

Was there any more of the Hearst article? I couldn't find it in the e-edition. That part you posted doesn't say who's investigating the matter. Ct Mirror's article says the original state committee that was investigating it (which apparently includes CT Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, former counsel to Gov. Dan Malloy and appointee of DM) says the matter is too complicated for them--and then the matter was referred to an Attorney Twardy in a private law firm.

‘Colangelo, Diamantis ‘lack credibility’

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Offic...220202-Day-Pitney-Report-of-Investigation.pdf

FBI investigating projects related to fired state official Kosta Diamantis

subpoena:
DocumentCloud

 

[Niner]

Thursday, February 3rd:
*Disposition Hearing (Violation) & Pretrial Hearing (assault) (@ 2pm ET) – CT – Jennifer Rebecca Farber Dulos (50) (May 24, 2019, New Canaan; still missing) – for *Kent D. Mawhinney (54/now 56) arrested & charged (1/7/20) & arraigned (2/20/20) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. Bond reduced (10/7/20) to $246K. Bond posted (10/19/20).
Court info from 1/7/20 thru 12/20/21 reference post #8 here:
Still Missing - CT - Jennifer Dulos, 50, New Canaan, 24 May 2019 *ARRESTS* #55
1/18/22 Update: Brief virtual hearing for Mawhinney during which Judge John F. Blawie put the case on the trial docket but with no date yet. There is no future court date at the moment, but that will only happen if a new motion is filed or new information arises. Also learned today a request was previously granted to allow Mawhinney to travel for family business to Cape Cod & Florida. The judge & Mawhinney’s attorney noted he’s been compliant with the terms of his release since he posted bond in October 2020.
*Charged (1/21/19) spousal sexual assault, disorderly conduct & 2nd degree unlawful restraint & on June 26, 2019 with violating of a protective order. Plead not guilty. $500 bond for each count.
*Divorce case - 11/6/20: Uncontested dissolution of divorce granted.
If bond made – on house arrest, surrender passport & no contact with co-defendants. Dulos’ former civil lawyer who represented Dulos against a $2.5 million civil lawsuit filed by his mother-in-law.
Court info from 2/14/20 thru 12/22/21 reference post #8 here:
Still Missing - CT - Jennifer Dulos, 50, New Canaan, 24 May 2019 *ARRESTS* #55
1/14/22 Update: Violation: Disposition hearing on 1/24/22 & for assault: a plea hearing on 1/24/22. 1/24/22 Update: No ruling by Superior Court Judge Hope Seeley today. Following arguments, she asked Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott to reply “paragraph by paragraph” to Attorney Jon Schoenhorn’s motion on whether she has certain information and/or why it shouldn’t be turned over. Of note today: Schoenhorn dropping during arguments that during Mawhinney’s interview with State police, he made multiple misogynistic & racist comments. He says with his client being a Hispanic woman, those comments go to motive. State's attorney Sharmese Walcott told Superior Court Judge Hope Seeley that she felt Schoenhorn should have filed his motion in Stamford Superior Court where the conspiracy to commit murder cases are proceeding. But Walcott conceded that by law, Schoenhorn had a right to any documents or indication that a deal had been struck in her cases to gain Mawhinney’s cooperation in the case against Troconis.
1/24/22 Update: Violation: Awaiting deposition, next hearing on 2/3/22. Assault: Next pretrial hearing on 2/3/22.
*Michelle C. Tronconis (44/now 46) – Motions hearing on 2/15/22.
*Fotis Dulos (52) – Committed suicide on 1/28/20 & declared dead at 5:32pm on 1/30/20. 3/3/20: Charges dismissed. The case against Dulos will be officially dismissed in about a year, unless the state decides to reopen it. 1/17/22: After debt, no money left in Dulos estate for children. While Fotis Dulos’ estate has $395,687 in assets, it owes $548,280.75 in expenses, according to Farmington Probate Court records. Attorney Christopher Hug will be paid $189,525 for settling the estate & attorney Paul Knierim, who represented Hug, will receive $98,326, court documents show."

 

[pernickety]

‘Colangelo, Diamantis ‘lack credibility’

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Offic...220202-Day-Pitney-Report-of-Investigation.pdf

FBI investigating projects related to fired state official Kosta Diamantis

subpoena:
DocumentCloud

Thanks for all of this. Egads! Those fed subpoena instructions to the DAS re school construction/Diamantes--how daunting! I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the Comm'r of DAS (and Gov. Lamont's right-hand man) Josh Geballe's announcement (yesterday) that he's leaving his state employment to take a position with Yale's Innovation and Entrepreneurial venture. But I noticed that feds are seeking docs starting back in 2018, which would've been during Malloy administration.

 

[sds71]

Mawhinney, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the Jennifer Dulos disappearance, will appear in state Superior Court in Hartford for the first time since a judge ordered Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott to provide detailed responses to the evidence the prosecution has gathered in the domestic cases.
Defendant in Dulos case to appear in court on domestic violence charges




“When it comes to Colangelo, I don’t hire him, I don’t fire him, but if I did, he’d be gone,” Lamont said after an unrelated press conference in Farmington
When asked if Colangelo has lost the confidence of the public following the report, Lamont said, “I have zero tolerance for this kind of ethical malfeasance and the deputy of OPM was gone very soon.”

Lamont: If it were up to him, CT’s top prosecutor would be ‘gone’

 

[Tink56]

Thanks for all of this. Egads! Those fed subpoena instructions to the DAS re school construction/Diamantes--how daunting! I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the Comm'r of DAS (and Gov. Lamont's right-hand man) Josh Geballe's announcement (yesterday) that he's leaving his state employment to take a position with Yale's Innovation and Entrepreneurial venture. But I noticed that feds are seeking docs starting back in 2018, which would've been during Malloy administration.

Melissa McCaw, a long time Hartford politico, seems to be an interesting player. This will be devastating for the JFD case. Colangelo is most guilty o.f wanting to secure and keep qualifiked people, IMO.

Disappointed in RC if he compromised his integrity. However, I imagine many would like the prosecutors who are hard on crime gone. We'll see ...

 

[sds71]

A resolution may be close for Kent Mawhinney’s domestic violence cases, but it remains unclear how it could impact the Jennifer Dulos proceedings.

Mawhinney appeared Thursday in state Superior Court in Hartford for the first time since a judge ordered Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott to provide detailed responses to the evidence the prosecution has gathered in the domestic cases.

Another prosecutor stood in for Walcott during the brief proceedings on Thursday. Judge Hope Seeley told the court she expected the case to go in a particular direction Thursday. Instead, she called for a short continuance until Feb. 23 so she could receive “the further information the court has asked for,” Seeley said.

On the domestic charges, Mawhinney has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a spouse, disorderly conduct, second-degree unlawful restraint and violation of a protective order.

Defendant in Jennifer Dulos case nears resolution on domestic violence charges

 

[sds71]

@nickrondinone

It appears that Chief State's Attorney Richard Colangelo has retained an attorney, James Glasser. Glasser sent a statement on his behalf.


From Justice McDonald, head of CJC which has oversight over Colangelo:

"The findings in the report are quite startling and raise profoundly serious questions about whether the Chief State's Attorney can continue to discharge the duties of the constitutional office he holds.”

 

[pernickety]

Mawhinney, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the Jennifer Dulos disappearance, will appear in state Superior Court in Hartford for the first time since a judge ordered Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott to provide detailed responses to the evidence the prosecution has gathered in the domestic cases.
Defendant in Dulos case to appear in court on domestic violence charges




“When it comes to Colangelo, I don’t hire him, I don’t fire him, but if I did, he’d be gone,” Lamont said after an unrelated press conference in Farmington
When asked if Colangelo has lost the confidence of the public following the report, Lamont said, “I have zero tolerance for this kind of ethical malfeasance and the deputy of OPM was gone very soon.”

Lamont: If it were up to him, CT’s top prosecutor would be ‘gone’

If Gov. Lamont doesn't have authority to hire or fire Colangelo, then why did the Gov. meet with Atty. Twardy about his report of his investigation/findings, in the presence of Atty Dannehy, the Gov's counsel, but not with Atty-General Tong, who signed the contract to retain Twardy (according to the Courant)? Now the CT Mirror is requesting records of what Gov. discussed with Twardy, but Gov. says he has to ask Atty-Gen'l whether there might be atty-client privilege?

 

[Jmoose]

If Gov. Lamont doesn't have authority to hire or fire Colangelo, then why did the Gov. meet with Atty. Twardy about his report of his investigation/findings, in the presence of Atty Dannehy, the Gov's counsel, but not with Atty-General Tong, who signed the contract to retain Twardy (according to the Courant)? Now the CT Mirror is requesting records of what Gov. discussed with Twardy, but Gov. says he has to ask Atty-Gen'l whether there might be atty-client privilege?

Gov. Lamont has his own candidate for that roll. It’s disingenuous of him to pretend that he “doesn’t hire or fire” for that position. If he wants someone else there, Colangelo is going. I hate when they come right out and treat us like idiots.

 

[sds71]

The Criminal Justice Commission, which appointed Colangelo and has sole power over the position, scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with lawyers from the state Attorney General’s office to review the laws and regulations governing removal of the chief state’s attorney, a constitutional officer who cannot simply be dismissed. The commission was created as a quasi-independent agency in the hope of insulating criminal prosecutions from political influence.
Among other things, a formal charge would have to be brought and Colangelo would be summoned to a hearing at which he could present witnesses on his behalf.
“It is a sad day for everyone involved,” said former Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane, who preceded Colangelo in office.
CT Criminal Justice Commission to discuss removal of Colangelo as state’s top prosecutor sticks quietly to his office

 

[sds71]

New Canaan police do not have a designated video-sharing program, but created a special website for people to upload videos in the Jennifer Dulos disappearance case, Lt. Jason Ferraro said.

The disappearance drew international headlines when the mother of five vanished in May 2019. A neighbor’s security camera captured her returning home that morning after dropping off her children at school. The image of her vehicle captured the last activity before police believe she was killed by her estranged husband in her garage.

Other videos, including of what police believe was Fotis Dulos riding a bicycle that morning in the direction of his estranged wife’s home, were among the estimated more than 100 Ferraro said they received in the case.

“It was a massive undertaking” to view the videos to determine which contained evidence in the disappearance, he said.

Those videos and others from local school buses, state highway cameras and the Hartford public safety camera system built the case against Fotis Dulos, who died by suicide in January 2020 while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in the case.

Police: More CT residents helping solve crimes by sharing home security videos