Former Bridgeport Mayor Files Complaint

NEW HAVEN (AP) — Former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim wants the US Department of Justice to investigate what he says was misconduct by prosecutors during the 2003 trial that led to his corruption conviction.

Ganim says two key government witnesses were allowed to testify falsely that they had forfeited their ill-gotten gains, but had secret side deals in place to avoid the forfeiture.

Ganim, in the complaint announced Monday, says the money that was supposed to be forfeited was used instead to pay fines, restitution, and tax liabilities, even though forfeiture was supposed to be a separate penalty.

Ganim, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence, made the same claims in an appeal filed last month in federal court in New Haven.

Prosecutors declined comment. A spokeswoman with the Department of Justice said the agency does not confirm or deny investigations.

Ganim filed the complaint with the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department of Justice, alleging prosecutors violated court rules, used false testimony and withheld evidence.

“I am requesting a determination as to whether these acts and omissions were actions that were sanctioned by the Justice Department of the United States or whether they were committed without authorization and therefore are determined to be ... acts by these individual assistant U.S. attorneys,” Ganim wrote.

The prosecutors who tried Ganim, Michael Sklaire and Ronald Apter, no longer work for the US attorney’s office.

Ganim says he wants an independent counsel appointed to handle the complaint if the Office of Professional Responsibility cannot investigate his allegations. Ganim calls for a formal reprimand or administrative sanctions if the allegations are substantiated.

“Knowingly using false testimony in order to secure a conviction, as was done here, is the type of act by a member of the Justice Department that should lead to disbarment proceedings if not criminal charges,” the complaint states.

The two government witnesses, Paul Pinto and Leonard Grimaldi, were Ganim associates who testified against him. They deny Ganim’s allegations.