Facing Possible Expulsion, DeLuca Resigns

HARTFORD (AP) — State Senator Louis DeLuca announced October 13 that he will step down rather than face possible expulsion from the Senate for asking a trash hauler with alleged mob ties to threaten his granddaughter’s husband.

“There’s a time and place for all good things to end,” he said, choking back tears as he spoke to reporters and supporters with his wife and some of their children and grandchildren by his side. “We’ve fought the good fight.”

Sen DeLuca’s announcement came moments before the Senate was expected to grant subpoena power to a six-member bipartisan investigative committee seeking tapes of conversations DeLuca had with an undercover FBI agent in 2005.

The panel appeared to be moving toward recommending the full Senate expel or censure Sen DeLuca. Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams, D-Brooklyn, said his gut told him his colleagues were headed toward the first expulsion in Connecticut Senate history.

Committee member and Senator Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, called Sen DeLuca’s resignation a sad ending.

“I don’t think the conclusion would have been anything other than that, even if we had gone forward,” she said.

Sen DeLuca, the former Republican minority leader, has represented ten towns in western Connecticut since 1991. He has said he asked Danbury trash hauler James Galante for help because he believed his granddaughter was being abused by her husband and Waterbury police would not assist him — a charge they have denied.

The threat against his granddaughter’s husband was never carried out.

Sen DeLuca, 74, of Woodbury, has also come under fire for offering political help to Galante, who is awaiting trial on 93 counts, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion, mail and wire fraud, and witness tampering.

“I believe in my heart that my actions were designed to protect my family,” Sen DeLuca said, though he said he harbors no anger toward those who think poorly of his judgment. He denied ever violating the public trust and said he has always tried to be a faithful public servant.

His resignation, which Sen DeLuca termed “retirement,” takes effect November 30. A special election will be held in January to fill his seat.

Sen. DeLuca struggled to contain his emotions Tuesday as he thanked supporters and his family.

“No man is more fortunate to have the love and support throughout my public life and over these past few months that I’ve had,” he said.

Sen DeLuca stepped down as Senate minority leader in June after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor threatening charge. He received a six-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and donate $1,500 to charity.

He has apologized for his actions, calling them stupid, and said that he hoped to put what he considered a family matter behind him and continue serving.

But Sen DeLuca said he went through the equivalent of a five-month trial — the Senate investigation — even though his court case was closed.

Senator Edith Prague, D-Columbia, a longtime political foe, said Sen DeLuca’s resignation was long overdue.

“His behavior and his willingness to use the power of his seat to help a man whom he knew was on the fringes of criminal behavior ... is outrageous,” she said. “You know, we have ethics in the chamber. We have a code of dignity and integrity.”

Last week, the committee investigating Sen DeLuca passed a strongly worded resolution that not only sought subpoena powers but also concluded that Sen DeLuca violated the public trust and brought dishonor to his office and the institution of the Senate.

The committee held a short final meeting after Sen DeLuca’s announcement.

“Obviously the committee will be concluding its work today,” said Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, the co-chairman. He said Sen DeLuca’s resignation was the best thing for the senator, his family, and the state.

Sen DeLuca’s district includes his hometown of Woodbury along with Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Milford, Oxford, Roxbury, Southbury, Thomaston and Watertown.

Lawmakers are expected to debate whether to create a new ethics panel for the legislature when they return to the Capitol in February.