Term As Mayor and Felony Conviction
Perez, a Democrat, was elected as the first Latino mayor of Hartford in 2001. Under 2002 changes to the city charter, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Hartford. He was re-elected in 2003. Since his tenure as mayor Perez has come under fire for alleged corruption, reported and uncovered by The Hartford Courant and reporters Daniel E. Goren and Jeffrey B. Cohen. However, he was endorsed by the Courant editorial board for re-election in 2007 and beat multiple opponents to win a primary and general election.
In summer 2007, Perez announced that his home had been searched by investigators probing work done on his home by a contractor who had received city business.
On January 27, 2009, an arrest warrant was filed for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence. The warrant, which credited The Hartford Courant for prompting the investigation, alleged that Perez had work done on his home by city contractor Carlos Costa, who was also arrested. Perez turned himself in to state police, stating that he had a lapse in judgment but did nothing illegal, and vowed that he would not step down as Hartford's mayor. His attorney alleged that the state had failed to even prove probable cause for his arrest.
His trial date was postponed to November 2009.
On September 2, 2009, Perez was arrested again on unrelated extortion charges stemming from a no-bid parking lot deal. He has vowed that he is innocent yet again and "will fight for the facts to come out, because the truth is on my side."
He was arraigned on September 8, 2009 and convicted on June 18, 2010 On the same day, he officially announced his resignation.
Even after his conviction by a jury on five of six felony charges, Perez claimed that he was innocent and vowed to appeal the conviction.
Read more about this topic: Eddie Perez (politician)
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