The Hartford Courant today reported Donald Vaccaro, CEO of TicketNetwork Inc., was arrested at an Oscars party last night and charged with a second-degree hate crime, second-degree threatening, breach of peace, first-degree criminal trespass and interfering with police.
Vaccaro’s a somewhat controversial figure who gained a bit more notoriety last year when his company was among the first to qualify for one of Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy’s new job creation subsidies.
So Vaccaro’s name popped out at me a few weeks back when I was sifting through House Speaker/congressional candidate Chris Donovan’s, D-Meriden campaign finance filings.
A quick search on the Federal Election Commission website shows Vaccaro has also given cash to U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s run for U.S. Senate and over the years donated to other Democrats, the state party and Republican David Cappiello.
I contacted both the Donovan and Murphy campaigns this afternoon asking whether in light of the arrest they intend to return the money.
A spokesman for Donovan said they will donate the $1,000 to a charity. They’re still discussing which one. Meriden’s Women and Families Center.
Waiting to hear back from Murphy’s camp.
UPDATE: Murphy’s campaign just announced Vaccaro’s money will be donated to the WOW/NRZ Community Learning Center in Waterbury.
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Individual Contributions Arranged By Type, Giver, Then Recipient
Contributions to Political Committees
VACCARO, DONALD
VERNON ROCKVILLE, CT 06066
TICKET NETWORK/CEO
MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER S VIA FRIENDS OF CHRIS MURPHY |
|||
09/25/2011 | 1000.00 | 11020411755 |
VACCARO, DONALD
VERNON ROCKVILLE, CT 06066
TICKETNETWORK/CEO
COURTNEY, JOSEPH D VIA COURTNEY FOR CONGRESS |
|||
10/19/2010 | 2400.00 | 10932010347 |
PASCRELL, WILLIAM J. HON. JR. VIA PASCRELL FOR CONGRESS |
|||
12/14/2009 | 500.00 | 10990220357 | |
06/30/2010 | 500.00 | 10990876370 |
VACCARO, DONALD J.
VERNON, CT 06066
TICKET NETWORK/CEO
LARSON, JOHN B VIA LARSON FOR CONGRESS |
|||
10/07/2010 | 2400.00 | 10931599128 |
VACCARO, DONALD J.
VERNON, CT 06066
TICKETNETWORK/CEO
DONOVAN, CHRISTOPHER G VIA DONOVAN FOR CONGRESS |
|||
11/19/2011 | 1000.00 | 12950416958 |
VACCARO, DONALD J.
VERNON, CT 06066
TICKETNETWORK/FOUNDER/CEO
CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE | |||
06/03/2009 | 525.00 | 29934327307 | |
04/02/2010 | 700.00 | 10990690713 | |
05/11/2011 | 1750.00 | 11931681520 |
VACCARO, DONALD MR.
VERNON, CT 06066
TICKET NETWORK/PRESIDENT/CEO
CAPPIELLO, DAVID J VIA COMMITTEE TO ELECT DAVID CAPPIELLO FOR CONGRESS |
|||
03/07/2008 | 1000.00 | 28990797841 |
Total Contributions: 11775.00