He Said: She Said: AG and State Police Colonel Differ on 38 Studios

SCITUATE, RI — Col. Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of Public Safety, today announced that she does not plan to reopen the criminal investigation into 38 Studios unless new evidence is uncovered that would warrant a reopening of the case.

“In July, the Attorney General and the former Colonel held a press conference to announce that the criminal investigation was complete and that there would be no charges,” she said. “In my view, the case is closed. If presented with new evidence or leads, I will direct the State Police to reopen the criminal investigation. That is exactly what I told the Attorney General when we spoke yesterday.”

Her statements were made in response to a news release issued earlier today by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, in which he stated that the Rhode Island State Police is refusing to reactivate the criminal investigation into 38 Studios, now that the civil case has come to a conclusion.

“The criminal investigation into this case ended more than a year and a half ago, with no criminal charges resulting,” she said. “When I met with the Attorney General yesterday, I told him I would be willing to reopen the investigation if we had new, solid, credible leads. The information the Attorney General’s Office has provided to us is not persuasive enough to reopen the case at this time.”

She also noted that there is great public interest in the findings of the criminal investigation. To delay the case any longer by examining thousands of pages of documents from the most recent civil case would delay the conclusion of this case with little expectation of revealing any new information.

“Rhode Islanders are rightly angry over 38 Studios and I share the view with many people in the state that the public has the right to know what happened,” Col. Assumpico said.

Col. Assumpico also said she “whole-heartedly” disagreed with the Attorney General’s assertions that refusing to reopen the criminal investigation, even though there is insufficient evidence to do so, would create the public perception of a cover-up.

“My tenure as Superintendent at the Rhode Island State Police may be in its early stages, but I can promise you that my administration stands for honesty, integrity and transparency,” Col. Assumpico said. “There will not be, and has never has been, any cover-up of this investigation or unnecessary delay in its resolution.”

In closing, Colonel Assumpico said. “The Rhode Island State Police stands ready to reopen the 38 Studios criminal case when or if new evidence presents itself. In my opinion, this degree of evidence has not been established at this time. The status of the 38 Studios investigation will remain closed. “