RI GOP Files Ethics Complaint Against Smiley
GoLocalProv Political Team
RI GOP Files Ethics Complaint Against Smiley
On Wednesday, Smiley announced he is stepping down.
"Mr. Smiley is getting ready to resign to focus on the next chapter of his public service career. We believe that the next chapter in Smiley’s career shouldn’t begin until a sweeping investigation by the Ethics Commission into his unethical pay to play fundraising is conducted," said Rhode Island Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Cienki.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We also hope that a future chapter in Smiley’s career does not involve Raimondo giving him a job in Washington D.C. Along with committing to keep Huawei on the Entity List, maybe U.S. Senators should demand that Raimondo commit not to put slimy Smiley, her right-hand man, on the federal payroll," she added.
In 2017, a GoLocal series unveiled a complex web of intertwined political consulting businesses that Smiley owned which received hundreds of thousands of dollars of payments from elected officials — the same officials that needed to seek funding or favors from Smiley and his bosses.
In 2017, a GoLocal editorial called for the RI Ethics Commission to investigate Smiley.
While owning these companies, Smiley served as Director of Administration to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Chief of Staff to Raimondo, and Director of Administration. In these positions, he earned between $130,000 and $188,000 a year.
Smiley was the gatekeeper to top politicians seeking access to Elorza and Raimondo and had direct budget authority to billions of dollars of public contracts.
About Complaint
"The Commission must launch a comprehensive investigation into all the donations Smiley received from individuals employed by state vendors to determine if he solicited donations from these individuals. The Ethics Commission has the power to compel production of documents and testimony from witnesses through the use of subpoena. The Ethics Commission should require all donors, who are associated with state vendors, to describe under oath any conversation they had with Smiley related to a campaign donation. Specifically, these donors should be asked under oath whether Smiley promised or threatened them in any way," said the GOP in their memoranda.
"A full investigation of Smiley’s fundraising activities with the employees of state vendors is justified. Smiley promised the Ethics Commission he would not solicit or accept campaign contributions from any state vendors," they added. "Smiley lied to the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission must conduct a sweeping investigation of Smiley’s fundraising practices and fine him."
Smiley did not respond to a request for comment before publication.