Doherty keeps $1,000 from Sen Ciccone

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Former State Police Col. Brendan Doherty says he's keeping $1,000 donated to his congressional campaign by state Sen. Frank Ciccone, despite an allegation by police in Barrington that the lawmaker threatened them while they were arresting Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio.

"It is our understanding that Senator Ciccone has apologized for any comments that may have been viewed as improper," Giovanni Cicione, Doherty's campaign manager, told WPRI.com in an email. "For now we see no reason to take any action."

Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, crossed party lines twice last year to contribute campaign cash to Doherty, who retired as head of the Rhode Island State Police to challenge first-term Democrat David Cicilline. Ciccone gave Doherty $500 in June and another $500 in October, according to Federal Election Commission records.

The Barrington Police Department alleges Ciccone tried to get a state police major to intervene while they were giving Ruggerio sobriety tests early Wednesday morning. The police report also says Ciccone told an officer: "You think you got pension problems now? Wait 'til this [expletive] is all done. This guy [Ruggerio] voted against you the last time, it ain't gonna get any better now."

Ciccone said Friday he disputes some of the police report's details but added, "I certainly regret anything I may have said Tuesday evening that was inappropriate." Both Ciccone and Ruggerio, D-Providence, work for arms of the Laborers International Union of North America. That connection is part of why Doherty - whose campaign slogan is "Common Sense, Uncommon Integrity" - will keep the money, according to his campaign manager.

Doherty "appreciates the support of a prominent Democrat and union leader such as Senator Ciccone, whom he has also known professionally for many years through their interaction on union matters," Cicione said.

A Senate spokesman directed questions to Ciccone, who was not immediately available for comment. Ciccone is registered to vote in the 2nd Congressional District represented by Congressman Jim Langevin. Cicilline and Doherty are competing to represent the 1st Congressional District.

Asked on Monday at the State House for her reaction to the revelations about Ciccone and whether the Senate would take any action in response, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed told WPRI.com: "I have no comment at this time." She repeated the answer verbatim in response to two follow-up questions.

Ciccone rarely makes contributions to federal candidates, whether Democrats or Republicans. Other than his $1,000 to Doherty last year, FEC filings show Ciccone's only other federal donations in recent years were $1,000 to President Obama's reelection campaign last October and $200 to U.S. Sen. Jack Reed back in 2002.

While Ciccone has not supported Cicilline's congressional campaigns, the state senator made seven campaign donations totaling $1,650 to the former Providence mayor between September 2002 and September 2007, according to R.I. Board of Elections Records. A spokeswoman for Cicilline declined to comment.

Cicione emphasized that Doherty's decision is not a signal he's siding with Ciccone over the officers in Barrington.

"Brendan obviously has great respect for the Barrington Police Department and the difficult situations officers face when fairly and effectively enforcing our laws," he said. "[Barrington Police] Chief [John] LaCross and Brendan worked side by side for many years, and he considers him a good friend and a man of integrity."

Separately, the Rhode Island Republican Party's new Strike Force group criticized the behavior of both senators.

"The hard-working men and women of the Barrington Police Department or any police department for that matter should not have to fear political retribution for properly performing their duties," Mike Napolitano, a spokesman for the GOP group, said in a statement. "The statements made by Sen. Ciccone show how absolute power in the Democrat Party has corrupted absolutely."

Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com and writes the Nesi's Notes blog. Follow him on Twitter: @tednesi