Update: Ex-aide: I briefed Cicilline on brother's bad check
4:47 PM Wed, Dec 10, 2008 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« All home safe after Providence school bus engine fire |
Main
| Virtual world's goal: How to have healthy relationships »
By W. Zachary Malinowski PROVIDENCE -- A former top aide to Mayor David N. Cicilline told a state police detective that he briefed his boss on the circumstances surrounding a bad check for $75,000 that Cicilline's brother, John M. Cicilline, wrote on behalf of a delinquent taxpayer more than two years ago. The aide, Chris Bizzacco, Cicilline's ex-chief of staff, provided the explosive admission in a formal statement to State Police Detective John Lemont. The statement is included in a court affidavit filed Monday in District Court, and it clearly contradicts what Cicilline told The Providence Journal in September when he said he first learned of the bad check. "I had just learned about it and was distressed and he assured me that there was nothing there," Cicilline said at the time of his brother. "I accepted that because I am the mayor and he is my brother that this required a review so that someone could objectively look at it." In the nine-page affidavit, Bizzacco said he recalled John Simmons, the mayor's former director of administration, approaching him in October 2006 to discuss the bad check. At the time, Bizzacco said that he believes Simmons was about to assume a new post in the administration as finance director. Bizzacco said that he remembered bringing Simmons into Cicilline's office and telling the mayor about his brother not having enough money in his checking account to cover the $75,000 check. Bizzacco told the detective that Cicilline did not give him any specific directions other than, "see what you can do to resolve it." Simmons told the detective that he never spoke to Cicilline about the issue. This afternoon, Cicilline met with a reporter in his City Hall office and vehemently denied Bizzacco's recollection of the meeting. He said the he would have remembered with "great clarity" a discussion of a bad check for $75,000 involving his brother. "My head would have exploded," Cicilline said. "I would have been so angry." The matter of the bad checks revolves around Garcia Enterpises, a hardware store and auto-parts business at 577 Cranston St., in the city's West End. The owner, Felix Nelson Garcia, was a local business leader in the Latino community and friend of John Cicilline. The taxes have never been paid by Cicilline or the debtor Garcia, the affidavit says. John Cicilline, who was disbarred as a lawyer last week, is serving a federal prison sentence in Massachusetts on charges that he was involved in shaking down a drug-dealing couple of more than $100,000. 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
Authors
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
It's already clear that Cicilline can't run for Governor. Looks like he may be clearing out the corner office at City Hall as well.
Tah Tah, Chi-Chi
Report Abuse
Maybe you remember the business joke -- a new executive is presented with 3 numbered envelopes by the outgoing exec to help him deal with any problem he couldn't solve.
The first (opened after 6 months of increasing difficulty) said 'Blame your predecessor'. The second (which he opened a year later after things again began to deteriorate) said 'Reorganize' and the third (which he opened six months and many problems later) said 'Prepare three envelopes'.
Report Abuse
Mayor Cicilline is the most honest, ethical, politician in this state - he had to clean up the sewer left behind by the double-felon mayor. Cicilline should be goverbnor - help get this state back on tracvk liek he did Provdience.
Report Abuse
this is just the tip of the iceberg..only difference between him and Buddy is the face..if the public really knew the whole story of what really takes place..no one that works at city hall or public safety would have a job!!!!!!
Report Abuse
Vote for Chris Young in 2010 for Mayor of Providence. I will.
Chris has been one of the few who have spoken out about Cicilline.
Chris ran against Cicilline in 2002 and 2006, when he received 26% of the vote for Mayor of Providence.
go to http://www.WhereToVote.com to learn more about Chris.
Report Abuse
Come on people its the holiday season, I have faith that the Mayor will do the stand up thing. He will admit he was wrong by miss leading the people and will not throw his ex chief of staff under the bus. I am sure the mayor is well aware his brother is a sleeze ball and has ridden on his coat tails, but I dont think the Mayor is anything like that and will tell the truth to restore his rep as well as the people that work for him. We all would do what we could to help family but Mayor please dont let us down and admit this mistake and move on..... Like I said I have faith in you...... Its the Holiday Season
Report Abuse
Very funny Will and thanks to Prepare 3 Envelopes for the joke-I hadn't heard that one.Better that we laugh about the apparent continuing corruption at Prov.City Hall.I know that if I hadn't been doing so ,'my head would have exploded'.
Report Abuse
Mayor Cicilline is the most honest, ethical, politician in this state?????? Jack do you not read the paper? Do you not see what he did to cover up for his brother? What would he have done if it were someone other then his brother? Do you not see that he lied and tried to make his Chief of staff look bad by saying he was never told? Do you not see this honest and ethical person was willing to tarish other peoples names to protect his low life brother? The same brother that gets in trouble then has a fundraiser to help pay for his kids to keep living the lifestyle he screwed other people over to have. The only reason so many people went was because it was the Mayors brother and the best part ....Our honest and ethiacl Mayor allowed it.... He is in no way as bad as the scummy last Mayor who should still be in jail but this shows he isn't all that much better. I am hoping he steps up to the plate and just comes clean.
Report Abuse