Patrick Lynch (Rhode Island attorney general)

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2⁄3 percent of whatever damages the company won. Critics have charged that this kind of relationship between law firm and government is improper because the law firms stand to benefit from a guilty verdict. [13]

2008 Presidential race: Endorsement of Barack Obama

Lynch was the second of the only two superdelegates in Rhode Island to publicly endorse Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary on February 9, 2008. The first being Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy on January 28, 2008. [14] Ultimately, Barack Obama lost the Rhode Island Democratic primary on March 4, 2008 to Hillary Clinton.

Central Falls Corruption Controversy

In 2010, Lynch became embroiled in a controversial investigation into rampant fraud and corruption by Central Falls Mayor Charles D. Moreau, a close friend of Lynch's. Lynch recused himself from the investigation due to his relationship with Moreau and with Moreau's spokeswoman, Cynthia Stern, whom Lynch later married. Moreau was sentenced in Rhode Island federal court to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to soliciting and accepting a bribe while Mayor of Central Falls. [15] [16] [17]

Gubernatorial campaign

On May 22, 2009, Lynch announced his candidacy for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2010 gubernatorial election. [18]

On August 6, 2009, Lynch was warned by the State Board of Elections that he needed to more carefully disclose his campaign spending. At issue was some $9,000 in petty cash transactions that were not properly documented. The State Board of Elections did not fine Lynch whose campaign filed corrected paperwork amidst being confronted with the issue. The complaint was filed by the Rhode Island Republican Party. [19]

On July 15, 2010, Lynch announced his exit from the Governors race, and endorsed fellow Democrat Frank Caprio. In his statement, Lynch said: "I did not enter public service to become a footnote in history by injuring my party, resulting in the election of a governor who is not equipped to guide our wonderful State into the future it deserves." [20] [21]

Current Activities

Since leaving his post as attorney general, he has been accused of lobbying his former office several times on behalf of topics such as online gambling and Google Search engine practices via his firm the Patrick Lynch Group. Whilst he has never registered with the state as a lobbyist, he denies that his communications with the office of current Attorney General constitute lobbying. [22]

Additionally, he is a member of a law and consulting firm, Patrick Lynch Law [23]

Election history

2006 General Election

Patrick Lynch
72nd Attorney General of Rhode Island
In office
January 7, 2003 –January 4, 2011
CandidateVotes %
Patrick C. Lynch (D)217,32459.51%
J. William W. Harsch (R)147,48940.49%
Patrick C. Lynch (D) reelected Attorney General.

2002 General Election

CandidateVotes %
Patrick C. Lynch (D)191,488
J. William W. Harsch (R)119,117
Patrick C. Lynch (D) elected Attorney General.

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References

  1. ↑ "Lynch Announces Exit from RI Governor Race". ABC6.com. Associated Press. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Patrick C. Lynch (RI)" Archived 2006-10-23 at the Wayback Machine (accessed July 19, 2006)
  3. ↑ National District Attorneys Association, "In Profile: Patrick C. Lynch", May/June 2005 (accessed July 20, 2006).
  4. ↑ NDAA-APRI Profile
  5. ↑ Liz Anderson, "Lawyer to announce he's GOP candidate for attorney general", The Providence Journal , June 11, 2002.
  6. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "Results for Attorney General by Community" Archived 2006-09-24 at the Wayback Machine November 5, 2002 (accessed July 21, 2006).
  7. ↑ State of Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, "Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch" Archived 2006-08-21 at the Wayback Machine (accessed July 29, 2006).
  8. ↑ Paul Edward Parker, "State issues 257 subpoenas for trial of Michael Derderian", The Providence Journal, July 18, 2006.
  9. ↑ "The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for disaster that killed 100?". CBSNews.com . 24 October 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Raja Mishra, "Rhode Island wins lead paint suit", The Boston Globe , February 23, 2006.
  11. ↑ Bhattarai, Abha (2 July 2008). "Rhode Island Court Throws Out Jury Finding in Lead Case" . NYTimes.com . Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Scott Mayerowitz, "Lynch accepted campaign donations from lead defendant", The Providence Journal, June 30, 2006.
  13. ↑ Peter B. Lord, "State's deal with law firm in paint case challenged", The Providence Journal, April 4, 2006.
  14. ↑ Peoples, Steve (10 February 2008). "Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch endorses Senator Obama". Providence Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  15. ↑ MacKay, Scott. "Cynthia Stern leaves Central Falls job". RI NPR. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "NEW: Former Central Falls Mayor Moreau Pleads Guilty to Bribe". GoLocalProv.com. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Hummel. "Hummel Report". YouTube. Hummel Report and Rhode Island Spotlight. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Dujardin, Richard C. (23 May 2009). "Attorney General Patrick Lynch plans to run for governor in 2010". The Providence Journal .
  19. ↑ Associated Press (6 August 2009). "Patrick Lynch warned about campaign fundraising". WJAR. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013.
  20. ↑ Lynch announces his exit from governor's race Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ DePetro, John (21 July 2010). "Exit Stage Lynch". GoLocalProv.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Associated Press (17 November 2014). "Ex-attorney general lobbied but never registered" . Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  23. ↑ Mulvaney, Katie (29 October 2014). "Ex-Attorney General Patrick Lynch a focus of New York Times story on lobbying" . Retrieved 11 April 2015.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Rhode Island
2002, 2006		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Rhode Island
2003–2011		Succeeded by
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