House Speaker Chris Donovan To Scale Back Role in Coming Session

House Speaker , D-Meriden, who's campaign for the 5th Congressional District is being battered by the arrest this week of his finance director, will limit his role in the upcoming legislative session.

Donovan's campaign made the announcement during a press briefing outside the capitol. The Connecticut Mirror also says Donovan is temporarily relinquishing his role as State House speaker.

Gov. Dannel Malloy, Donovan to make public everything he knows about campaign finance irregulatories alleged by federal authorities, was quick to laud Donovan for the move, but again urged Donovan to publicly address the issue.

“The Speaker made the right decision today when he decided to turn his responsibilities for the Special Session over to Rep. Sharkey.  There’s a lot of important work to do between now and June 12th, and then on June 12th, and the Speaker’s active participation would have been a distraction.  In terms of what comes next for the Speaker, I urge him to give it a lot of thought, quickly, and come forward and speak to the people of Connecticut.”

Donovan's campaign finance director, Robert Braddock, by federal authorities on Wednesday on charges he hid questionable donations to Donovan's campaign.

Donovan has since fired Braddock and the campaign manager.