Defense: no attempt to cover-up by Rowland

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland leaves federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Rowland was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a political consulting scheme on Wednesday, exactly one decade after he was ordered behind bars in an earlier scandal that forced him from office. FILE PHOTO/AP Jessica Hill

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland leaves federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Rowland was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a political consulting scheme on Wednesday, exactly one decade after he was ordered behind bars in an earlier scandal that forced him from office. FILE PHOTO/AP Jessica Hill

The defense for John Rowland, who is less than a month away from reporting to prison for a second time since resigning as governor in 2004, is disputing that the disgraced Republican attempted to cover-up his role as a shadow campaign operative.

Rowland had no knowledge of a scheme to throw off election officials by having him work as a nursing home consultant instead of as a paid campaign aide to failed GOP congressional hopeful Lisa Wilson-Foley in 2012, according to a 12-page motion filed by Friday New York City criminal defense lawyer Andrew Fish.

The 57-year-old Rowland is seeking to remain free on bond while he appeals his 30-month prison sentence for campaign fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

“The government does not dispute that defendant John G. Rowland does not pose a risk of
flight or danger to the community and that his appeal is not for the purpose of delay,” Fish wrote in the brief.

Rowland’s latest motion contends that Wilson-Foley’s husband, Brian Foley, concocted the entire sham contract for the ex-governor to work his the family’s nursing home business, Apple Rehab.

“There is no allegation that Mr. Rowland suggested that he be paid for work on the Wilson-Foley campaign through a third party,” Fish wrote. “To the contrary, it is undisputed that (1) Brian Foley came up with the idea of hiring Mr. Rowland to work at Apple Healthcare (“Apple”) (2) Mr. Rowland never suggested that Foley or Lisa Wilson-Foley pay him for campaign work through a third party, and (3) Foley never told Mr. Rowland or anyone else that Mr. Rowland’s job at Apple was a sham or that he was being paid for campaign work.”

The Justice Department, which earlier this month opposed Rowland’s bid to remain free during his appeal, declined to comment.

Neil Vigdor