Erik Wallin, Republican candidate for Attorney General, today called for the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor or for the U.S. Attorney to assume responsibility for overseeing the investigation into recent allegations of corruption involving Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau, a person whom Attorney General Lynch has described as a friend and political ally.

Wallin stated "I firmly believe that public corruption is a crime against the people of the State of Rhode Island. Therefore, it should be the Rhode Island Attorney General who prosecutes public corruption cases." Wallin continued, "Attorney General Lynch has failed to provide the people of Rhode Island with a clear statement as to how this widening corruption probe into Mayor Moreau will be handled by the Attorney General’s Office given his ties, personal and political, to the Mayor." Expressing his concern with the current state of affairs on this issue, Wallin stated, "Frankly, at this point, the only two people who can effectively investigate and prosecute this matter if necessary is either a special prosecutor or the U.S. Attorney."

Wallin referenced a recent op-ed by former Attorney General Arlene Violet where she stated that there are numerous ways the attorney general should be handling this case, including the use of a special prosecutor and that "his failure to delegate a probe is a dereliction of duty where a friend is involved."

Wallin reiterated his position that as Attorney General, he will have a Public Corruption Task Force staffed with seasoned prosecutors who will have primary responsibility for proactively and aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of public corruption. In addition, Wallin will create a 24-hr Corruption Tip-line to the Attorney General's Office so that the public can report claims to the state's highest law enforcement officer and not just the media. "This is why Rhode Islanders deserve an Attorney General who is independent of special interests and has the courage and conviction to investigate and prosecute those who betray the public trust."


keywords: corruption, central falls, charles moreau

The cancer that is corruption continues to devour our state. Most recently, the governor’s audit shed light on $75 million of willfully mismanaged taxpayer dollars for insider deals, extravagant bonuses, over-paying and a variety of other corrupt actions. read more...

Erik Wallin, candidate for Attorney General, today expressed shock and outrage at Attorney General Lynch's apparent refusal to launch an investigation into actions by Mayor Moreau and his longtime friend and campaign contributor, Mike Bouthillette. read more...

Erik Wallin today called for the immediate appointment of a special prosecutor or for the U.S. Attorney to assume responsibility for overseeing the investigation into recent allegations of corruption involving Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau. read more...