Diageo North America, Inc. the liquor and wine importer and Pfizer, Inc. the druggists, violated the state Code of Ethics by failing to report expenditures associated with receptions that each hosted during the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The firms agreed to $5,000 fines for hosting separate receptions in Charlotte, North Carolina during the 2012 Democratic National Convention. “At each reception, multiple Connecticut state employees, public officials and/or members of a public official’s staff or immediate family attended,” the office announced. ” However, neither Diageo nor Pfizer reported the expenditures on their lobbyist financial reports. The events were on September 3, the first day of the convention, including a “welcoming reception” attended by nine state officials in a Charlotte restaurant hosted by Diageo (Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Baileys, Ketel One vodka, Ciroc vodka, Tanqueray, Guinness, Smirnoff Ice and Chateau & Estate wines) and a party at a Charlotte winery sponsored by Pfizer, purveyors of Viagra, among many other drugs.
Both companies have since submitted the filings. “Lobbyist reports must fully disclose all expenses as required by the Code of Ethics,” said Carol Carson, executive director of the Office of State Ethics. “It is worth noting that the public officials and employees that attended did not violate the Code, because the total cost per person did not exceed the $50 limit.”
Diageo N.A. is represented in the Capitol by contract lobbyists Kevin Reynolds, Brenda Sisco and Dwayne Kratt. Pfizer has in-house lobbyists John Dunne, Ken Hisco and Molly Williams, according to OSE filings.
View: Stipulation and Consent Order 2013-23
Stipulation and Consent Order 2013-24