House GOP releases grand jury subpoenas

Copies of four federal subpoenas released Friday show the U.S. attorney’s office seeking a wide range of documents relating to the state House Republicans’ campaign committees and its departed chief of staff, George Gallo.

He was the only individual named in the subpoenas.

Gallo abruptly resigned Thursday, a day after federal authorities served the subpoenas at the Legislative Office Building, disclosing the existence of the second grand-jury investigation involving the Connecticut General Assembly in as many years.

The documents do not dramatically expand details of the investigation beyond what was disclosed Thursday in a statement from House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk.

House Republicans released copies of three subpoenas served on the GOP, while the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Management released copies of a fourth subpoena served on its records custodian.

The four subpoenas were obtained by Michael S. McGarry, the deputy chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Unit, the same group that prosecuted a corruption case involving the congressional campaign of former House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden.

Donovan was not charged, but eight persons were convicted in the case, including his campaign manager and chief fundraiser. In the Donovan case, the legislature refused to release the subpoenas until March, 10 months after the investigation became public.

Sources said Thursday the new inquiry focuses on Gallo’s relationship with Direct Mail Systems of Clearwater, Fla., a provider of direct mail and fundraising services with a national base of commercial and political clients. Its clients include the Connecticut Republican Party and numerous legislative candidates.

The subpoenas demand copies of all contracts, emails, text messages and other documents related to Direct Mail Systems and the House GOP’s other mail contractor, King Strategic Communications. They cover Jan. 1, 2008 through Feb. 14, 2014, when the subpoenas were issued by the grand jury.

The authorities made the same demand for all communications Gallo and his consulting business, The Vinco Group, had with House Republican staff and two political action committees controlled by GOP caucus, New Friends PAC and the House Republican Campaign Committee.