If you’re a candidate for governor, you want to be as far away as possible from the scandal unfolding around Central Falls Mayor Charles D. Moreau. (Farther than Westerly even.) But Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, a Democrat running for governor, is a longtime friend of Moreau’s, and Moreau’s spokeswoman is Lynch’s girlfriend and former legislative director, Cynthia Stern. While we’re all entitled to have friends, that seems too close for comfort for a candidate in an election year. If you haven’t been tuning in, state police detectives are scrutinizing lucrative work that Moreau gave to his friend and campaign contributor, Michael G. Bouthillette, to board up or clean up some 200 abandoned or foreclosed buildings, at a cost of about $2 million. "We went in on the boarded-up houses, but the investigation has gone beyond that," the state police superintendent told The Journal’s Mike Stanton and W. Zachary Malinowski. "We’ll be there for quite some time." On Wednesday, Lynch said he has distanced himself from the Central Falls probe. 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. In practical terms, that means Lynch "does not know who has been and is being investigated or interviewed, and doesn’t know where the investigation is or where it is going," said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general’s office. Lynch’s campaign manager, Joel Coon, said Lynch recused himself "because he has a personal conflict, having been friends with Mayor Moreau since they were kids playing CYO basketball together. Any other issues related to Central Falls are irrelevant because he has already recused himself." Lynch, who is divorced, confirmed Stern is his girlfriend. "She is working for a mayor who needs a spokesperson," he said. "If behind that, there is a suggestion that I’m not doing the right thing, that’s not true. I ethically, professionally and personally decided immediately that I shouldn’t be involved in the case," he said. "I am as far away from it as I can be." But Republican attorney general candidate Erik B. Wallin is calling for Lynch to go further by appointing a special prosecutor or bringing in federal prosecutors. Wallin, who worked for Lynch as a special assistant attorney general, said, "I have a great deal of respect for Gerry Coyne as someone who has served the people of Rhode Island in a tremendous way through a number of administrations." But he said Lynch and his office "are one in the same." And he said citizens "deserve to be confident that this is going to be an independent investigation in which no undue influence is going to be exercised, from a perception perspective or realistically." Healey said special prosecutors have been named in just 17 of nearly 80,000 cases during Lynch’s tenure. He cited a case in which the entire office had a conflict, saying only Lynch has a conflict in this matter. Lynch blasted Wallin’s proposal as an "irresponsible political attack that is based on naiveté and a gross lack of experience in the office," and said a special prosecutor could cost "tens of thousands of dollars" in this case. Of course, in Central Falls, that’s hardly enough money to board up a couple of houses.


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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 Decries Public Corruption By North Providence Town Councilman
by Erik Wallin | May 06, 2010 - erikforag.com

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. 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.

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...

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...

Rhode Island Under Siege
by Erik Wallin | December 18, 2009 - ErikForAG.com

Rhode Island is under siege.  A wave of terrorism has spread across our urban cities.  The terrorists are not those we commonly think of. They are street gangs, like MS-13, The Almighty Latin King Nation, Hanover Boyz, Providence Street Boys and the list goes on. These gangs control our streets through violence and fear.  While the battle has raged in Providence, Central Falls, Woonsocket and other urban areas, outlying communities are now facing this clear and present danger. 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...