Erik Wallin, candidate for Attorney General, today decried continuing public corruption in Rhode Island, this time allegedly by three members of the North Providence Town Council. "As I have repeatedly stated throughout my campaign, public corruption is alive and well here in Rhode Island. It's been less than one week since the U.S. Attorney became involved in the Central Falls public corruption probe of Mayor Moreau due to Attorney General Lynch's close personal ties to him, and now the FBI has arrested and charged three members of the North Providence Town Council for extortion and taking bribes. I, like all Rhode Islanders, continue to be disappointed in our elected officials and state and municipal government personnel, and we demand better!", Wallin stated. Arraigned today in federal court were North Providence Council President Joseph Burchfield, Councilman Raymond Douglas and Councilman John Zambarano on charges of extortion and taking bribes. According to the affidavit used in support of the charges, the three elected officials engaged in a shake down of a company who was going to develop a Stop & Shop Supermarket. Wallin stated, "public officials demanding bribes in exchange for votes in order to do business in this state is the kind of pay to play politics that leaves Rhode Islanders unemployed and our state without economic development."

"Cooperation with federal authorities is crucial, but Rhode Island needs to clean house and that's what I intend to do as Attorney General," Wallin said. As Attorney General, Wallin 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-hour Corruption Tip-line to the Department of Attorney General so that the public can report claims to the state's highest law enforcement office and not just the media.

Wallin said, "Under my administration, anyone who betrays the public trust will be investigated by my office, be it a republican, democrat, independent or moderate party member, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."


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Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, Proposes Anti-Corruption Legislation - The HOPE Act
by Erik Wallin | May 25, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, today released his Honest Operation of Public Entities (HOPE) Act as part of his plan to combat political corruption that continues to plague Rhode Island. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Renews Call to Attorney General Lynch to Protect the Constitutional Rights of Rhode Islanders
by Erik Wallin | May 12, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General, today renewed his call to Attorney General Lynch to protect the constitutional rights of Rhode Islanders by joining the 20 attorneys general in challenging the constitutionality of the new health care legislation. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Commends U.S. Attorney Involvement in Central Falls Probe
by Erik Wallin | May 04, 2010 - erikforag.com

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin today commended the decision by the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, Colonel Doherty, to involve the U.S. Attorney in the investigation of Central Falls Mayor Moreau. read more...

630 WPRO Interview with John DePetro About Patrick Lynch's Central Falls Scandal
May 04, 2010 -
Erik Wallin appears in-studio with the legendary Jim Hummel (WPRI-TV) to discuss the latest developments in the Patrick Lynch Central Falls scandal.

Longtime ties bind Lynch to probe in Central Falls
by Edward Fitzpatrick | May 03, 2010 - Providence Journal

Deputy Attorney General Gerald J. Coyne sent the state police a letter on Jan. 25, saying Lynch had recused himself. “Decisions regarding the prosecution of matters arising from this review, should such prosecution be warranted, will be made by our criminal division and reviewed only by me,” Coyne wrote. read more...

Wallin Campaign Announces Lammis Vargas Joins Campaign Staff
by Erik Wallin | May 02, 2010 - erikforag.com

Today - Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General today announced the addition of Lammis Vargas to his campaign. read more...

920 WHJJ Interview with Helen Glover About Mayor Moreau
April 26, 2010 -
920 WHJJ interview with Helen Glover about the latest scandal involving AG Patrick Lynch and Central Falls Mayor Moreau

630 WPRO Interview with John DePetro About Mayor Moreau
April 26, 2010 -
630 WPRO interview with John DePetro about the latest scandal involving AG Patrick Lynch and Central Falls Mayor Moreau

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Renews His Call for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor or U.S. Attorney Involvement Into the Investigation of Central Falls Mayor Moreau
by Erik Walln | April 25, 2010 - erikforag.com

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin today renewed his call for the appointment of a special prosecutor or the involvement of the U.S. Attorney into the ongoing investigation of Central Falls Mayor Charles "Chuck" Moreau. read more...

Wallin Racks up Endorsements for Attorney General
by Erik Wallin | March 28, 2010 - erikforag.com

Rhode Island Attorney General candidate Erik Wallin announced today (March 28, 2010) his endorsement by 15 local Republican Town Committee Chairs and the Rhode Island State GOP Chairmens' Caucus. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Calls on Attorney General Lynch to Protect the Constitutional Rights of Rhode Islanders
by Erik Wallin | March 24, 2010 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Candidate for Rhode Island Attorney General, today called upon Attorney General Lynch to undertake an immediate review of the $938 billion dollar health care bill signed into law by President Obama. read more...

Attorney General Candidate Erik Wallin Calls for the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor or U.S. Attorney Involvement in Mayor Moreau Investigation
by | January 27, 2010 - erikforag.com

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...

Attorney General Lynch Again Says 'No" to Investigating Allegations of Public Corruption
by Erik Wallin | January 15, 2010 - ErikForAG.com

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...

Republican Candidate for Attorney General Erik Wallin Receives Endorsement of the Little Compton Republican Town Committee
by | December 08, 2009 - erikforag.com

The Little Compton Republican Town Committee unanimously endorsed Republican candidate for Attorney General, Erik Wallin, becoming the first GOP committee to do so. read more...

Republican Candidate for Attorney General Commends Governor Carcieri for Veto
by Erik Wallin | November 10, 2009 - erikforag.com

Republican candidate for Attorney General, Attorney Erik Wallin, today commended Governor Donald Carcieri for his veto of H-5134, Substitute A, "An Act Relating to Criminal Procedure - Arrest".
read more...

Erik Wallin, Republican Candidate for Attorney General, Calls Upon Governor to Veto Legislation Protecting Criminals and Putting Rhode Islanders in Danger
by Erik Wallin | November 04, 2009 - erikforag.com

Erik Wallin, Republican Candidate for Attorney General, today voiced outrage over a bill passed by the General Assembly, H-5134 SubA, and called upon Governor Carcieri to veto it. read more...

The Cancer That Is Corruption
by Erik Wallin | October 01, 2009 - Warwick Beacon

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...