This week several New York newspapers, including the New York Times, have reported federal indictments being brought against some of Gov. Cuomo’s aides, including a top aide Joseph Percoco, for accepting bribes in helping obtain $100 million to finance a power plant in the Hudson Valley as well as millions more in energy credits for a power plant they were building in New Jersey.
Two of the counts in the indictment list Peter “Braith” Kelly.
Braith Kelly is CPV’s VP for External Affairs. Kelly is accused of “offering and paying Percoco more than $287,000 in bribes in exchange for Percoco’s help. The payments were made to Mr. Percoco’s wife, Lisa, who was ostensibly employed as a consultant to CPV’s educational outreach arm starting in 2012.”
U.S. Attorney Bharara was quoted as saying that he hoped the case would go to trial “so that all New Yorkers can see, in gory detail, what their state government has been up to.”
Braith Kelly led the CPV’s efforts in getting Towantic power plant approval here in Connecticut and in Oxford.
Now that CPV's VP, Braith Kelly, have been charged with these allegations, federal authorities should also looking into CPV Connecticut activities.
They are certainly aware of CPV’s presence and activities here in Connecticut.
These are still allegations.
People are considered innocent until proven guilty, but federal indictments are serious indictments.
Many power plant opponents have felt that, during this whole Towantic hearing process, our voices were never being heard as part of a level playing process.
In addition, two resident “no” votes against the plant were completely ignored. As if they never happened.
The plant may get built. However, I believe that this is still an ongoing investigation.
It’s not yet over. I take comfort in that.
Peter Bunzl
Oxford
