After admitting to ten ethics violations on Tuesday, former Rhode Island State Senator John A. Celona (D) was fined $130,000 by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, a record penalty.
The fine comes as a result of undisclosed consulting work for CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, and New England Ambulance between 2000 and 2003. Celona's contract with CVS netted him $1,000 a month in 2000 and included legislative favors beginning in 2001 as chairman of the Senate Corporations Committee. In 2002, he received $1,200 a month from another client, New England Ambulance. That same year, Celona began a relationship with Blue Cross as the host of a company-sponsored nutritional show on cable TV. He was initially paid $1,000 per episode and received a total of $10,605 over the course of the year. After his financial dealings were uncovered, Celona resigned from the RI Senate.
Celona has already pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and will likely see prison time. The Ethics Commission can impose a maximum fine of $25,000 per count, for a total penalty of $250,000, but decided to charge Celona approximately half that amount. Though Celona is remorseful, an apology may not suffice:
"This was no neophyte, but a career politician," said Jason Gramitt, the commission's prosecutor, calling Celona's actions "willful and egregious."
Government officials should take notice.
