State and local Democrats call for full investigation of Senator Cicarella following news reports

Following several news reports about possible irregularities related to compensation payments to Republican Senator Paul Cicarella of North Haven, Democrats are calling for a full investigation.

The reaction comes after Hearst Connecticut Media reported that Cicarella received approximately $123,000 in compensation payments between 2008 and 2013 without disclosing that he had at least three other sources of income during that period.

Cicarella had reportedly applied for disability benefits following an injury he sustained while working as a correctional officer for the state.

Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said in a statement Friday that the Hearst report “raises questions about its adequacy and legality.”

DiNardo said further action is needed.

“Workers’ compensation is designed to replace the income of people who have been injured at work and can no longer work. It is not designed to provide additional income to people who can continue to earn a living,” she said.

“If the facts presented in the June 12 CT Insider story are accurate, Senator Cicarella’s actions should be further investigated. Officials who abuse the public trust are not above the law.”

Cicarella told CT Insider in a statement late Friday that he was “shocked and dismayed” by the story, originally published by Hearst early last week, and that he would “let the facts speak for themselves.”

Cicarella told CT Insider that the notion that he did anything wrong was obviously false.

“During my time as a state senator, I have frequently called for measures that promote and increase government accountability and transparency, and I hold myself to the same high standards. I look forward to the truth coming out, as it always should,” Cicarella said in a statement to CT Insider.

State law does not require a person to certify in a legal document that they have declared all of their current sources of income when applying for workers’ compensation insurance. However, the state Attorney General’s Anti-Fraud Unit states that it is very much fraud if a person does not declare all of their income when applying for workers’ compensation insurance.

State law requires workers’ compensation recipients to disclose “all material facts” or they could be charged with a crime.

Other Democrats in the state also called for action in this case.

The North Haven Democratic Town Committee also released a statement last week calling for a formal investigation into any violations by Cicarella during the period he collected workers’ compensation payments.

“The integrity of our public officials is of the utmost importance,” said Lori Mansur, chair of the North Haven DTC, in a statement. “These revelations indicate a clear violation of the law and a breach of public trust.”

Mansur called on the prosecutor to launch an investigation.

“It is critical that these bodies take immediate action to investigate and, if necessary, prosecute fraudulent activities to preserve the integrity of the workers’ compensation system and protect taxpayer dollars,” the committee said. “Senator Cicarella cannot earn the trust of voters without a thorough investigation.”