FBI Recording: Berlin State Rep. Aresimowicz Mentioned "Killing" Legislation

In an FBI recording played in a high profiled federal court trial on Wednesday, state Rep. Joe Aresimowicz was heard telling a federal informant "killing bills is easier than passing them."

That's according to a story in The Hartford Courant, in which Aresimowicz, of Berlin, was speaking to Harry "Ray" Soucy, one of the people who pleaded guilty to a campaign fraud scheme targeting then-House Speaker Chris Donovan, of Meriden. The recording was captured at a fundraiser in 2011 in Waterbury.

In the same report, the Courant detailed a texting conversation in April 2012 between Soucy and Aresimowicz regarding tobacco-related legislation that Soucy wanted taken down. Soucy was quoted in the text exchange telling Aresimowicz that "chris D got 10 large." The news website CTNewsJunkie.com reported the same remarks.

The recording and the text messages were part of testimony in the trial of Robert Braddock Jr., a former aide to Donovan's campaign for the fifth district seat last year. Braddock, who has pleaded not guilty, is facing charges that he and seven others in participated in a scheme to trade $27,000 in so-called "straw donor" cash from tobacco shop owners in exchange for Donovan's influence on legislation. 

Aresimowicz has told Berlin Patch he cannot comment on the case until after he is called to testify or after the trial is over. He also indicated to the Courant that he wasn't involved in any agreement to kill the tobacco shop bill, noting that he voted for the bill in a committee last April. 

Donovan, who was a congressional candidate at the time of Braddock's arrest last year, has not been charged in the case and maintains he was not aware of the alleged scheme.

Aresimowicz, who also represents Southington, had not been referenced in the case until recently, when media outlets reported just two weeks ago that he may be called to testify.