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August 10. 2012 1:55AM
Ex-liquor chief blasts AG's probe
MANCHESTER — Former liquor commissioner Mark Bodi said the attorney general's office never contacted him before releasing a preliminary report Wednesday clearing the Liquor Commission of possible wrongdoing for allegedly hiring a lobbyist.
“This is absolutely incredible and I'm incredulous that the attorney general would conduct a review and come to any kind of sensible conclusion without talking to me and other important individuals,” said Bodi, who resigned last month.
According to the report, Liquor Enforcement Chief Eddie Edwards sent a report to the attorney general in May alleging the commission hired NH Beer Wholesalers lobbyist Clark Corson to lobby lawmakers on behalf of the commission. State law forbids the use of state funds to lobby lawmakers.
The report states that Bodi urged Corson to submit his resume to do the study. Bodi refutes that.
“I did not approve, authorize or forward the resume of Mr. Corson for consideration,” Bodi said. “That fact is documented within the liquor commission and would be supported by a full review which I would encourage and urge to take place.”
The way the attorney general's investigation was handled, “demonstrates the Attorney General's Office's inability to both respond quickly and impartially and thoughtfully when issues of concerned are raised by law enforcement officials and others in state government,” Bodi charged.
A preliminary investigation by Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice concluded there is no reason to do a full-fledged investigation because the allegations were unfounded.
Corson was hired to do a feasibility study of selling beer in state liquor stores, but the allegations are that the study was a cover for his lobbying efforts against a bill allowing hard liquor to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
“(Edwards) suggested that Corson had been hired to do a feasibility study on the sale of beer at the liquor stores, but that study was simply a cover for Corson doing lobbying work,” Rice wrote in her report.
According to the report, Bodi urged Corson to submit his resume to do the study as an outside independent analysis through one of the commission's advertising agencies, Rumbletree.
Corson's resume was submitted to the agency by a commission employee who said Corson was identified by the commission as someone who could do the study, according to the report.
Paid $30,000 Corson submitted the study in mid-July to Rumbletree.
Rice notes Corson said he has a personal friendship with Bodi, which raises conflict-of-interest issues.
“Given Bodi's departure from state government, additional review of his compliance with the ethics law will not be undertaken,” Rice wrote.
Bodi said he was available to talk to Rice or anyone else in the Attorney General's Office.
“I remained a liquor commissioner for an additional 30 days after announcing my return to the private sector,” Bodi said. “The Attorney General's Office had ample time and opportunity, and should have by any reasonable investigatory standard spoken to me before or even after I had left.
“Their failure to do so is inexcusable and their pointing a finger at me is inexcusable,” he said.
The current allegations follow reports of the loss of several hundred cases of wine during the move of the Portsmouth liquor store six months ago. After several months of internal review by the commission and Edwards, the Attorney General's Office was notified and is currently conducting its own investigation.
Garry Rayno may be reached at grayno@unionleader.com.
“This is absolutely incredible and I'm incredulous that the attorney general would conduct a review and come to any kind of sensible conclusion without talking to me and other important individuals,” said Bodi, who resigned last month.
According to the report, Liquor Enforcement Chief Eddie Edwards sent a report to the attorney general in May alleging the commission hired NH Beer Wholesalers lobbyist Clark Corson to lobby lawmakers on behalf of the commission. State law forbids the use of state funds to lobby lawmakers.
The report states that Bodi urged Corson to submit his resume to do the study. Bodi refutes that.
“I did not approve, authorize or forward the resume of Mr. Corson for consideration,” Bodi said. “That fact is documented within the liquor commission and would be supported by a full review which I would encourage and urge to take place.”
The way the attorney general's investigation was handled, “demonstrates the Attorney General's Office's inability to both respond quickly and impartially and thoughtfully when issues of concerned are raised by law enforcement officials and others in state government,” Bodi charged.
A preliminary investigation by Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice concluded there is no reason to do a full-fledged investigation because the allegations were unfounded.
Corson was hired to do a feasibility study of selling beer in state liquor stores, but the allegations are that the study was a cover for his lobbying efforts against a bill allowing hard liquor to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
“(Edwards) suggested that Corson had been hired to do a feasibility study on the sale of beer at the liquor stores, but that study was simply a cover for Corson doing lobbying work,” Rice wrote in her report.
According to the report, Bodi urged Corson to submit his resume to do the study as an outside independent analysis through one of the commission's advertising agencies, Rumbletree.
Corson's resume was submitted to the agency by a commission employee who said Corson was identified by the commission as someone who could do the study, according to the report.
Paid $30,000 Corson submitted the study in mid-July to Rumbletree.
Rice notes Corson said he has a personal friendship with Bodi, which raises conflict-of-interest issues.
“Given Bodi's departure from state government, additional review of his compliance with the ethics law will not be undertaken,” Rice wrote.
Bodi said he was available to talk to Rice or anyone else in the Attorney General's Office.
“I remained a liquor commissioner for an additional 30 days after announcing my return to the private sector,” Bodi said. “The Attorney General's Office had ample time and opportunity, and should have by any reasonable investigatory standard spoken to me before or even after I had left.
“Their failure to do so is inexcusable and their pointing a finger at me is inexcusable,” he said.
The current allegations follow reports of the loss of several hundred cases of wine during the move of the Portsmouth liquor store six months ago. After several months of internal review by the commission and Edwards, the Attorney General's Office was notified and is currently conducting its own investigation.
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Garry Rayno may be reached at grayno@unionleader.com.