Trial Underway for Former Donovan Aide in Finance Scheme Case

The trial is now underway for the Robert Braddock Jr., former finance director for Meriden resident Chris Donovan, as he faces charges in an alleged campaign finance scheme during Donovan’s run for the Fifth Congressional District in 2012.

Braddock, 34, appeared before a federal judge in the U.S. District Court in New Haven Monday morning as opening statements were made in the case. Braddock is facing charges related to having allegedly accepted “conduit campaign contributions.

Seven other defendants have already pled guilty in the case.

According to officials with the U.S. Department of Justice, donations were made by one person in the name of another. It is a violation of federal campaign finance law for any person to knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person. A federal investigation revealed that a scheme involved using “straw donors” to hide $28,000 in contributions to Donovan’s campaign, mostly from owners of roll-your-own tobacco shops.

Officials said the money was part of an effort to kill state legislation that would have increased taxes at the shops. Donovan was never charged in the case.

Braddock pled not guilty to the charges following his arrest last June.

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