Represented Former Gov’s Office–

Attorney Tapped For Top Post

NEW HAVEN (AP) — An attorney who represented former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland’s office during an impeachment scandal and federal investigation has been recommended to become the state’s next top federal prosecutor, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Governor M. Jodi Rell recommended Hartford attorney Ross Garber in a letter to President Bush, said Adam Liegeot, a spokesman for the governor.

Garber, 40, was legal counsel for the governor’s office during a 2004 impeachment inquiry that led to Rowland’s resignation. Rowland spent ten months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a corruption charge.

Rowland had his own attorney for his criminal case, but Garber handled compliance with federal subpoenas of records. Garber won a landmark appeals court ruling that held that a legal adviser to Rowland could not be ordered to repeat conversations she had about gifts the governor received.

Garber would replace Connecticut US Attorney Kevin J. O’Connor, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to become associate attorney general at the Department of Justice.

Garber continued to briefly represent the governor’s office after Rell, who was lieutenant governor under Rowland, completed Rowland’s term. Garber also ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for state Senate and treasurer.

Garber, who declined comment on Rell’s recommendation, has defended several clients in high-profile federal cases. One of his clients is Christopher Rayner, one of nearly 30 people charged in a federal probe of mob influence in the trash industry. Rayner was accountant to James Galante, a Danbury businessman accused of paying a “mob tax’’ to stifle competition.

O’Connor, 40, has been Connecticut US attorney since 2002. He was chief of staff to the US attorney general from April 2007 until November 2007.

During O’Connor’s tenure in Connecticut, prosecutors successfully convicted a wave of public officials, including Rowland, a state lawmaker and the mayors of two of the largest cities. They also have won numerous convictions in the trash probe and won record environmental fines against companies.

O’Connor sent out an e-mail Monday announcing that Nora Dannehy, the prosecutor who led the Rowland probe, would serve as deputy US attorney. John Durham had served in that role, but was recently appointed by Attorney General Michael Mukasey to oversee the investigation into the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes.

Bush must now decide whether to nominate Garber and the US Senate must approve the nomination.