NEW: Mollis Confirms Maximum Fine in Zaccagnino Lobbying Case

NEW: Mollis Confirms Maximum Fine in Zaccagnino Lobbying Case

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis sent a letter to Hearing Officer Attorney Louis DeSimone on December 18 stating that he adopted DeSimone’s findings that Mr. Thomas Zaccagnino “did conduct lobbying activities and therefore violated the reporting requirements by failing to report when informed of the fact."

In DeSimone’s decision he stated that Mr. Zaccagnino, “shall file all necessary lobbying reports for 2010 commencing in March through the termination of the legislative term within seven (7) days of the date of this decision” and that “failure to provide said reports within the above period shall result in a fine of Two Thousand ($2,000) Dollars payable forthwith”.  

“I would like to, once again, thank Mr. DeSimone for his work on this matter as a Hearing Officer”, says Mollis.  “His experience lent a great deal to this unprecedented process”. 

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“With this finding, I further reiterate that our actions were never politically motivated,” says Mollis.  “If we wanted to act politically, we would have had one hearing, asked for the maximum fine, and benefitted politically.  Instead, we acted and continue to act in the best interests of the responsibilities of our office and the people of Rhode Island.  We look forward to continuing our work over these next few weeks and bring the remainder of our 38 Studios investigation to a close.”

Mollis’ action will bring the Hearing Process to a close with “statutory maximum fine permitted in this matter” for lobbying violators. 

For more information please contact Raina C. Smith, Director of Communications at the Office of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis at  401-222-4293 or [email protected].