THE STENCH OF CANNABIS CORRUPTION AT THE STATE HOUSE
October 28, 2022
WPRI recently disclosed that John Conti, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s senior deputy chief of staff, had been involved in a marijuana business with Raymond “Scarface” Jenkins, an associate of the New England Crime Family. Since at least 2018, Conti had used his position in the Speaker’s office to inform his business associates of internal State House discussions regarding the development of the state’s marijuana policies.
Speaker Shekarchi has previously stated that Conti’s work was done “impeccably.” Furthermore, Speaker Shekarchi has recommended to Governor Dan McKee certain people be appointed to the Cannabis Control Commission, which will regulate marijuana businesses in Rhode Island.
The R.I. Republican Party has the following comments:
“It is bad enough that the FBI is investigating Governor McKee’s ILO contract, but now we have one of Speaker Shekarchi’s top aides secretly in a marijuana business with someone associated with organized crime.
How is it possible that Speaker Shekarchi or for that matter his chief of staff Ray Simone had no idea or suspicion about Conti’s involvement in a marijuana business?
The resignation of Conti is not enough to fumigate the State House from the stench of cannabis corruption. For starters, a public meeting of the Joint Committee of Legislative Services must be convened immediately to discuss the scandal surrounding Conti.
Mr. Simone should be required to testify as to what exactly Conti did, what role Conti played in the development of the state’s marijuana policies, and how Simone could not have known of his deputy’s activities.
Also, JCLS should immediately require all top legislative employees to immediately disclose all their business interests. Furthermore, because of the scandal, Governor McKee must pledge not to appoint anyone recommended by his ally Speaker Shekarchi to the Cannabis Control Commission.
We know if Ashley Kalus was governor she wouldn’t.
We need a break from these scandals. In the end, there is only one way to put an end to corruption at the State House whether it is related to marijuana or the ILO contract: Vote them out in November.”