Former Governor Rowland Will Go To Jail

The New York Post reports that former Connecticut governor John Rowland will soon plea to income tax evasion:

Rowland has been under investigation for months by the office of U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor, who has recused himself from working on the case personally because of his friendship with Rowland. The Republican has yet to be formally charged. "A deal has been made," said one insider. "The feds originally insisted he do 11 months in jail, but have agreed to five." When the five-month figure was run past another well-connected insider, the power-broker said, "Even less."

The Manchester Journal Inquirer reported on June 26, 2004:

Gov. John G. Rowland is weighing a deal that would be require him to plead guilty to an unspecified criminal charge and agree to a sentence of at least several months in a federal prison, according to a member of the legislative panel that considered impeaching him and a lawyer involved in the controversy that cost the governor his office.

The member of the House Select Committee of Inquiry - whose investigation was halted by Rowland's announcement that he would resign next week - said one of the governor's lawyers had disclosed that federal prosecutors made the "take-it-or-leave-it" offer to Rowland so he could avoid more serious charges and a potentially tougher sentence.

[. . .]

The lawmaker added that the offer is expected to expire soon and that a rejection by Rowland almost certainly would lead to a prompt criminal indictment.

I was surprised when Rowland resigned and there wasn't an indictment or plea arrangement announced. I posted in January that one of the reasons Rowland wouldn't quit was to provide some leverage in a plea arrangement.