Welcome to Corrupticut: What Americans Can Learn from My State's Fight Against Political Corruption
Connecticut’s Long Battle Against Corruption—and the Blueprint It Offers a Fractured Nation
Opinion by: Aisha K. Staggers
Eighteen years ago, I wrote a collection of short stories, essays, and poems titled Welcome to Corrupticut: Birthplace of George W. Bush (We Apologize). It was a reflection on the culture of corruption that seemed to define Connecticut politics in the 1990s and 2000s—a time when every new scandal earned a sarcastic refrain: “Welcome to Corrupticut.” It felt like the peak of political rot.
I was wrong.
Because what we are living through now with Donald Trump makes the Connecticut scandals of that era look quaint. Peanuts. Backroom deals in smoky halls are nothing compared to the brazenness with which Trump and his inner circle abuse power, enrich themselves, and invite foreign interference—not only in our elections but in the very soul of American governance.
The latest stunt? Reports that Trump is set to receive a $400 million luxury jet “gift” from the Qataris, which he claims is for the military but is actually earmarked for his presidential museum—and ultimately, for his own personal use. In classic Trumpian fashion, he attempted to deflect the criticism by saying, “Why wouldn't I?” As if that makes it better. As if what he’s describing—open bribery and quid pro quo foreign influence—isn’t problematic.
This is no longer just corruption. It’s propaganda. Trump isn’t hiding it. He’s selling it. Marketing it. Trying to convince Americans that this level of grift is savvy, smart—something even a fool (which he is) wouldn’t pass up.
And it’s working. Because while the media reports breathlessly on this shiny object, they’re not reporting enough on what’s happening in the shadows: House Republicans are quietly advancing a budget that would slash $750 million from Medicaid and nearly $300 million from SNAP—programs that feed and care for the most vulnerable Americans, including children (89% of children receiving SNAP also are on Medicaid and 56% of the children on Medicaid are white¹). These are the very same voters Trump promised to protect. But now, he and his allies are taking from the poor to give to the rich, including themselves.
This bait-and-switch is not new. It’s just heightened like corruption on steroids. Trump dangles the outrageous while the real damage happens quietly. The Qataris didn’t just “gift” a plane—they bought the distraction. They bought the headlines. They bought the president. And in doing so, they bought time for Trump’s party to gut the programs that keep Americans alive.
Make no mistake—this isn’t just about Trump. He has surrounded himself with oligarchs and enablers who see the presidency not as a public trust, but as a personal cash register. Every day he remains in public life, he sends a message to foreign dignitaries: America is for sale, and its safety, democracy, and integrity are auction items.
But there’s a lesson here. A map out of the mire. Because despite what we lived through and the political integrity we continue to pursue, Connecticut didn’t stay “Corrupticut.”
In the wake of its own scandals, the people of Connecticut fought back. The “pay-to-play” politics that once dominated the state were curtailed through serious reform. The state made a choice. A bipartisan one. And it worked. But that's jumping ahead. First, let's go back.
Welcome to Corrupticut
Joe Ganim: The Rise and Fall of Bridgeport’s "Mayor for Life"
Joe Ganim was one of Connecticut’s most high-profile examples of political corruption, serving as the mayor of Bridgeport, the state’s largest city, for nearly a decade. His political career came to an abrupt end in 2003 when he was convicted on 16 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion, and mail fraud. Ganim’s crimes were emblematic of the unchecked political culture that permeated much of Connecticut at the time. He had accepted over $500,000 in bribes from contractors and business owners who were awarded city contracts in return. These bribes came in many forms: cash payments, home renovations, luxury gifts, and even a “vacation” to the Bahamas. Ganim's role as mayor allowed him to wield immense power, and he used it to manipulate city contracts, funneling taxpayer money to his personal benefit and those of his benefactors.
Ganim's conviction sent shockwaves through the political establishment. He was sentenced to nine years in federal prison and was forced to vacate his post as mayor. The conviction was a pivotal moment in Connecticut’s history of corruption, exposing the toxic relationship between politics and business in the state’s largest urban center. Ganim's fall from grace should have been the end of his political career, but it wasn’t. Remarkably, after serving his prison sentence, Ganim returned to the political stage, running for mayor again in 2015. Despite his criminal past, Ganim managed to win the mayoral election, a testament to his deep political connections and the persistent loyalty of certain Bridgeport voters. His comeback was controversial—many argued that his return signaled a tolerance for corruption in Bridgeport’s political culture, a city where corruption was almost as familiar as the city’s iconic steel mills.
In 2015, Ganim won the mayoral race against incumbent Bill Finch, a mayor who had come under scrutiny for various missteps. Ganim’s win was partially due to the narrative of redemption that he crafted, as well as his focus on revitalizing Bridgeport’s struggling neighborhoods. However, his return was also shadowed by ongoing questions about his criminal past and whether his second term would mirror the corrupt practices that led to his conviction. Since his return, Ganim has faced renewed scrutiny, including investigations into absentee ballot irregularities in Bridgeport and accusations of mismanagement in the city’s police department. Despite this, Ganim’s election signaled a certain indifference towards political ethics in Bridgeport, a city long known for its corrupt political culture. His continued influence raised unsettling questions about the effectiveness of Connecticut’s efforts to root out corruption.
Ganim’s story serves as both a cautionary tale and a symbol of the enduring challenge Connecticut faces in breaking its long-standing culture of political corruption. His return to power underlines the difficulty of truly reforming a system when political machines and loyalty trump accountability. The 2015 election, while a win for Ganim, marked the beginning of a conversation about the long road to restoring trust in Connecticut’s local government. His career also brought renewed attention to the fact that corruption in Connecticut was not just about individuals but about the entrenched systems of power and favoritism that allowed such behavior to thrive unchecked for so many years.
Eddie Perez: Hartford’s Mayor and the Collapse of a Reformist Legacy
Eddie Perez’s ascent to the mayoralty of Hartford in 2001 was historic. Born in Corozal, Puerto Rico, and raised in Hartford’s impoverished neighborhoods, Perez became the city’s first Latino mayor and the first to serve under its newly adopted “strong mayor” system, which granted him significant executive powers. A former community organizer and Trinity College graduate, Perez campaigned on a platform of reform, promising to revitalize the city’s struggling neighborhoods and bring transparency to City Hall. His early tenure saw initiatives aimed at urban redevelopment and educational improvement, earning him re-election in 2003 and 2007. However, beneath the surface of these accomplishments, Perez’s administration was entangled in unethical dealings that would eventually lead to his downfall.
In 2009, Perez was arrested on charges of receiving a bribe from city contractor Carlos Costa. Investigators revealed that Perez had paid only $20,000 for home renovations valued at approximately $40,000, with the discounted rate allegedly tied to Costa's city contracts. Further scrutiny uncovered that Perez had intervened to expedite payments to Costa, raising concerns about preferential treatment. Later that year, Perez faced additional charges alongside former state Representative Abraham Giles, accused of attempting to extort $100,000 from developer Joseph Citino in exchange for facilitating the purchase of city-owned property. In 2010, Perez was convicted on multiple felony counts, including bribery and attempted larceny by extortion, leading to his resignation and a three-year prison sentence.
Perez’s legal battles continued as the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned his convictions in 2016, citing procedural errors in combining separate cases into one trial. Facing retrial, Perez pleaded guilty in 2017 to receiving a bribe and attempted larceny by extortion, resulting in an eight-year suspended sentence and a three-year conditional discharge. In 2019, a judge revoked Perez’s $28,000 annual pension, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and his breach of public trust. Despite these setbacks, Perez attempted a political comeback in 2019, running for mayor once more, but was unsuccessful. His trajectory from a reform-minded leader to a symbol of political corruption underscores the challenges of maintaining integrity in public office and the enduring impact of ethical lapses on a community’s trust in its leaders.
Philip Giordano: Waterbury’s Mayor and the Dual Scandals of Corruption and Abuse
Philip Giordano's tenure as mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut, from 1996 to 2001, is a stark illustration of political corruption intertwined with heinous personal misconduct. Initially gaining prominence as a Republican state legislator and former U.S. Marine, Giordano was elected mayor in 1995, defeating seven-term Democratic incumbent Edward "Mike" Bergin. He was re-elected in 1997 and 1999, presenting himself as a reformer committed to fiscal responsibility. However, beneath this façade, Giordano's administration was marred by financial mismanagement, including chronic underfunding of city pensions and the diversion of pension funds to balance the general budget. These practices led to state intervention, with a financial oversight board assuming control of Waterbury's finances. In July 2001, Giordano announced he would not seek a fourth term, a decision overshadowed by the unfolding scandals that would soon engulf him.
The unraveling of Giordano's career began with an FBI investigation into municipal corruption, during which agents uncovered evidence implicating him in sexual abuse involving minors. In July 2001, Giordano was arrested and charged with multiple counts of using his cellphone to arrange sexual encounters with two young girls, aged 8 and 10. The investigation revealed that Giordano had paid a prostitute to facilitate these encounters with her daughter and niece. In March 2003, he was convicted on 14 federal counts, including violating the girls' civil rights, and sentenced to 37 years in prison. Subsequently, in 2007, he pleaded no contest to state charges of sexual assault, receiving an additional 18-year sentence to run concurrently with his federal term. Giordano's actions not only devastated the victims and their families but also severely eroded public trust in Waterbury's leadership, casting a long shadow over the city's political landscape.
T. Frank Hayes: The 1930s Corruption That Shaped Waterbury's Political Legacy
Decades before Giordano's scandal, Waterbury's political history was already tainted by significant corruption under Mayor T. Frank Hayes. Serving from 1930 to 1939, Hayes simultaneously held the position of Connecticut's lieutenant governor from 1935 to 1939. His administration was characterized by the consolidation of power, including changes to the city charter that allowed him to control employment decisions and implement a no-bid contract system. Investigations later revealed that Hayes and his associates engaged in extensive fraudulent activities, including paying for nonexistent services and distributing kickbacks. In 1939, following a narrow re-election victory, newly appointed city comptroller Sherwood Rowland uncovered these corrupt practices and leaked the information to the press. A grand jury indicted Hayes and several others, leading to his conviction on charges of conspiracy and corruption. Hayes was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison and served six years before his release. His case remains one of the most significant examples of municipal corruption in Connecticut's history, highlighting the systemic issues that have periodically plagued Waterbury's governance.
These cases underscore a recurring theme in Waterbury's political history: the concentration of power and lack of oversight can lead to significant abuses of authority. The city's experiences with corruption have prompted calls for greater transparency and accountability in local government, serving as cautionary tales for municipalities nationwide.
John G. Rowland: From Rising Star to Symbol of Corruption in Connecticut Politics
John G. Rowland's political career was marked by a meteoric rise and a dramatic fall that epitomized the era of corruption in Connecticut. Elected as the state's youngest governor at age 37 in 1994, Rowland was a prominent figure in the Republican Party, even serving as chairman of the Republican Governors Association from 2001 to 2002. However, his tenure was marred by a series of scandals involving the acceptance of gifts and favors from state contractors and employees. Investigations revealed that Rowland received items such as a hot tub, a vintage Ford Mustang, and free vacations, often from individuals with business before the state. Despite initial denials, Rowland admitted in December 2003 that he had accepted these gifts, leading to a loss of public trust and calls for his resignation. Facing impeachment proceedings and a federal investigation, Rowland announced his resignation in June 2004, effective July 1, bringing an end to nearly a decade in office.
Rowland's legal troubles continued after his resignation. In December 2004, he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to steal honest services, admitting that he had deprived the public of his honest services as governor by accepting gifts and favors in exchange for political influence. He was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by four months of house arrest and three years of supervised release. Rowland served his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and was released in February 2006. His conviction and imprisonment were significant events in Connecticut's political history, highlighting the consequences of public corruption and the importance of ethical governance.
In a subsequent scandal, Rowland was again convicted in 2014 on seven counts related to campaign corruption, including conspiracy and falsifying records, for his role in attempting to conceal paid political consulting work during two congressional campaigns. This led to a second prison sentence, further tarnishing his legacy and reinforcing the narrative of pervasive corruption in Connecticut's political landscape.
Rowland's downfall served as a catalyst for political reform in Connecticut. His successor, Governor M. Jodi Rell, implemented measures to restore public confidence, including campaign finance reforms and stricter ethics laws. The state's journey from the depths of political scandal to a renewed focus on integrity and transparency underscores the enduring impact of Rowland's tenure and the lessons learned from this tumultuous period in Connecticut's history.
Since the enactment of Connecticut's landmark 2005 campaign finance reform law—designed to combat the state's entrenched culture of political corruption—the state has continued to grapple with a series of scandals involving public officials and political operatives. These incidents underscore the persistent challenges in achieving ethical governance and the need for vigilant oversight.
Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis and the School Construction Scandal
Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis, a former deputy secretary in Governor Ned Lamont’s budget office, was arrested in 2023 on 22 federal charges, including bribery, extortion, and conspiracy. Federal prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2021, Diamantis solicited and accepted bribes from contractors in exchange for steering state-funded school construction projects their way. He also allegedly secured a high-paying state job for his daughter and lied to FBI investigators during the probe. Three contractors have pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Diamantis. Despite his resignation in 2021, Diamantis continues to receive a state pension, raising concerns about accountability and the effectiveness of existing safeguards.
Bridgeport Election Fraud and Absentee Ballot Tampering
In 2023, Bridgeport faced a significant election fraud scandal involving absentee ballot tampering during the Democratic primary. Five individuals, including prominent Democratic figures such as Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee Vice Chairperson Wanda Geter-Pataky and City Council Members Alfredo Castillo, Maria Pereira, and Jazmarie Melendez, were arrested for illegally handling absentee ballots and pressuring voters. Surveillance footage revealed multiple instances of ballot box stuffing, leading to a court-ordered rerun of the mayoral election. Although incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim won the subsequent elections, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in the electoral process and the need for robust safeguards to ensure election integrity.
Jessica Martinez and the Dennis Bradley Campaign Finance Case
Jessica Martinez, former chair of the Bridgeport Board of Education, pleaded guilty to perjury in 2024 for lying under oath during a federal grand jury investigation into illegal fundraising activities for State Senator Dennis Bradley's 2018 campaign. Martinez, who served as the campaign's treasurer, falsely testified that no fundraising occurred at a campaign event, despite evidence to the contrary. The event raised nearly $6,000, which, if disclosed, would have disqualified the campaign from receiving over $84,000 in public election funding. Both Martinez and Bradley face wire fraud charges, with Martinez's sentencing pending.
Ethics Complaint in Fairfield Over COVID-19 Relief Funds and a Selectwoman's Severance Following Election Loss
In Fairfield, First Selectman Bill Gerber filed an ethics complaint against Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick in 2024, alleging a conflict of interest related to a denied $5,000 COVID-19 relief fund payment intended for a furnace installation by her husband's company. Kupchick contended that she had no involvement in the company since stepping down in 2019 and that the aid request was for a low-income family member. The payment was ultimately denied amid concerns over ethical standards, leading to a public dispute between Gerber and Kupchick and highlighting the complexities of managing relief funds and maintaining ethical boundaries in local governance. Kupchick also faces investigation over her $28,300 severance package after losing her 2024 election.
These cases illustrate that despite legislative efforts to curb corruption, Connecticut continues to face challenges in ensuring ethical conduct among public officials. The persistence of such scandals suggests a need for ongoing vigilance, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and a cultural shift towards greater transparency and accountability in government operations. As you can see, the attempts at corruption haven't ceased. What changed were the laws.
In 2024, Democrats in Connecticut won a supermajority—102 of 151 seats—proving that reform and results still matter to voters. They didn’t just talk about rooting out corruption. They did it and continue to hold the line.
Now, Democrats across the country must do the same.
It’s not enough to win. They have to win big. Large enough to hold a filibuster-proof Senate. Large enough for a House majority that doesn’t have to negotiate with extremists. Large enough to pass federal laws modeled after the ones that saved Connecticut. Because corruption doesn’t stop at the state line—and neither should our will to fight it.
Democrats must make state legislatures a top priority, too. They need governors who will sign anti-corruption laws and attorneys general who will enforce them. If Republicans want to repurpose language like “woke” and “DEI,” for their own authoritarian ends, Democrats can reclaim those words—and mean them. Let “Root Out Corruption” (ROC) be our new “woke agenda” replacing the GOP's “drain the swamp” and be the rallying cry of the 2026 midterms and beyond (Or in language my Gen Xers will understand: “you down with ROC, yeah, you know me”). Because this isn’t just about one man’s corruption. It’s about whether we let that corruption become a blueprint for American power.
Trump wants us to believe it’s all inevitable. That greed is wisdom. That bribery is diplomacy. That self-enrichment is patriotism.
But I remember what it felt like when we were called Corrupticut—and I remember how we said, “No more.”
Now it’s the nation’s turn.
Connecticut's journey from being known as "Corrupticut" to becoming a model for clean elections offers valuable lessons for the country. Here are some key takeaways:
Public Financing of Campaigns: Connecticut's Citizens' Election Program (CEP) provides public campaign funds to candidates in exchange for their agreement to increased disclosure requirements and smaller donation limits. This program has been instrumental in reducing corruption and promoting transparency.
Pay-to-Play Reform:
Connecticut's landmark pay-to-play law bans contributions and solicitation of contributions from lobbyists and state contractors. This law has been upheld in court and serves as a model for other states.
Strong Ethics Laws: Connecticut has implemented strict ethics laws, including limits on contractor contributions and real transparency measures. These laws have helped to restore public confidence in government.
Bipartisan Support: Connecticut's efforts to combat corruption have received bipartisan support, demonstrating that reform can transcend party lines. However, and lot of this progress is due to a Democratic majority, holding elected officials in their own party accountable.
Ongoing Vigilance:
Despite progress, Connecticut continues to face challenges in ensuring ethical conduct among public officials. Ongoing vigilance and strong enforcement mechanisms are necessary to prevent corruption.
By studying Connecticut's experiences and reforms, other states and the country as a whole can learn valuable lessons about how to promote clean elections, reduce corruption, and increase transparency in government ¹ ² ³.
Notes
¹The number of white children on Medicaid is important because the assumption by most Trump voters and uninformed Fox News hosts is that Black and Latino children are the majority of recipients. This is how they justify their bigotry and not wanting “their tax dollars” to feed “those people.”
²White children are more than one-third of SNAP recipients, Latinos are one-fourth, and Black children are about one-third; virtually all are US citizens.