Local Democrat Referenced During Trial of Former Donovan Aide

Local Democratic state Rep. Joe Aresimowicz may be called to testify in the trial Robert Braddock Jr., the former campaign aide to the ex-House Speaker Chris Donovan.  

Regardless of whether Aresimowicz, a Democrat who represents Berlin and Southington, is called to take the stand or not, his name was mentioned more than once during Braddock’s trial in New Haven Superior Court on Tuesday.  

According to CTNewsJunkie.com, a former tobacco shop owner named Paul Rogers testified that Harry ‘Ray’ Soucy, a corrections officer and union official who has since pleaded guilty in the case, claimed that he “owned” Aresimowicz. The news site did not elaborate further on the comment, although the remarks came during a testimony regarding a push against an increased tax on roll-your-own tobacco shops.  

Read the full story on CTNewsJunkie.com.  

Braddock, who has pleaded not guilty in the case, is on trial for allegations that he was a conduit for campaign contributions intended to influence legislation while Donovan was the House Speaker. Seven other defendants have already pleaded guilty in the case.  

Donovan has not been charged in the case and maintains he did nothing wrong.   The trial is set to resume on Wednesday.