Robert Corrente, the lawyer for Jeff Britt, filed a motion Thursday asking a judge to dismiss the felony money laundering charge against Britt for his role in Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s 2016 election campaign.
In his motion, Corrente argues that a lesser count, of making a prohibited campaign contribution “fits the state’s theory exactly,” but that “the state is apparently dissatisfied with that level of of retribution, even though,” a fine of up to $1,000, “is what the statute provides.”
“Accordingly, the state embarked on a crusade,” Corrente continues, “to find a bigger and more newsworthy charge, and so decided to charge Mr. Britt in Count 1 of the indictment with money laundering,” a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.”
It’s not immediately clear if this will delay the scheduled start Monday of Britt’s trial in Kent County Superior Court.
Britt is accused of funneling money for a mailer in which a former GOP rival of Mattiello endorsed him during his close 2016 re-election race.
Britt rejected a plea deal in July, and Corrente has described him as a fall guy in the case.
The looming trial has captivated Rhode Island’s political class, since the timing is seen as negative for Mattiello as he faces another challenge for his state rep seat in Cranston, this time time from Barbara Ann-Fenton Fung.
Mattiello is a potential witness during the trial, as is his chief of staff, Leo Skenyon, and a former staffer, Matt Jerzyk.
Attorney General Peter Neronha has described the case against Britt as an important example of enforcing laws related to campaign finance and corruption.
But in his motion, Corrente describes the issue differently.
“The use of the felony money laundering statute to overcharge a misdemeanor is unprecedented in Rhode Island and perhaps anywhere else,” Corrente states in his motion. “It is also completely improper, as a matter of law, and, if applied, would produce a result which is both absurd and egregiously unjust.”
