Minutes 3-17-26
MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION
OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION
March 17, 2026
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 3rd meeting of 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission conference room, located at 40 Fountain Street, 8th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, pursuant to the notice published at the Commission offices, the State House Library, and electronically with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
The following Commissioners were present:
Lauren E. Jones, Chair Frank J. Cenerini
Holly J. Susi, Vice Chair Scott P. Rabideau
Emma L. Peterson, Secretary Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.
Dr. Michael Browner, Jr. Matthew D. Strauss
Christopher P. Callahan
Also present were Herbert F. DeSimone, Jr., Commission Legal Counsel; Jason Gramitt, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; Lynne M. Radiches, Staff Attorney/Education Coordinator; Staff Attorneys Teresa Giusti and Teodora Popova Papa; and Commission Investigators Peter J. Mancini and Kevin Santurri.
At 9:00 a.m., the Chair opened the meeting.
The first order of business was:
Adjudication: In re: James E. Thorsen, Complaint No. 2023-7.
The adjudication was stenographically recorded, and a transcript of the proceeding will be available at the Commission’s office. Chief Prosecutor Jason Gramitt represented the People of the State of Rhode Island. The Respondent, James E. Thorsen, and his attorneys, Kevin J. Bristow and Fred A. Kelly, Jr., were present.
Chair Jones explained the process for today’s adjudication. He informed that the Respondent’s legal counsel requested the opportunity to submit a post-trial memorandum. Chair Jones stated that counsel for both parties may submit memoranda no later than April 1, 2026. He further stated that the Respondent’s counsel has waived the requirement that the Commission begin its deliberations immediately after the evidentiary hearing. He informed that the parties will present closing arguments, and the Commission will deliberate at a date certain to be determined following today’s proceeding. Legal Counsel DeSimone explained that the Commission found probable cause at a prior hearing as to three counts that the Respondent violated the Code of Ethics and the procurement statute. Legal Counsel DeSimone stated that there is a presumption of innocence that the Prosecution must overcome by a preponderance of evidence in its case in chief.
In response to Chair Jones, Chief Prosecutor Gramitt requested that the parties’ agreed-upon stipulation be admitted as a joint exhibit. Chair Jones noted that the stipulation will be marked as Joint Exhibit 1. He explained that a hearing was held on March 3, 2026, on the Respondent’s motion to exclude certain exhibits from the evidence admitted at this trial. Attorney Bristow requested that the objections raised at the March 3, 2026, hearing be incorporated into the record of this adjudication. In response to Chair Jones, Attorney Bristow waived the regulatory requirement that the Chair read aloud the findings of probable cause against the Respondent.
Chief Prosecutor Gramitt moved to admit in full all the exhibits to which the Respondent did not object as part of its motion to exclude heard on March 3, 2026. He informed that those exhibits were: P1, P2, P18, P19, P20, P22, P23, P25, P32, and P33, to which Attorney Bristow did not object. The exhibits were admitted in full. Chief Prosecutor Gramitt next moved to admit in full the exhibits that were part of the Respondent’s motion to exclude but which the Commission denied: P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, P11, P13, P14, P15, P16, P17, P28, P29, and P30. Attorney Bristow renewed his previous objections and argued that those exhibits should not be offered into evidence en masse but through witness testimony. Legal Counsel DeSimone suggested that the parties offer, and the Commission consider, the exhibits one at a time excluding those to which the parties have already agreed to admit. Commissioner Peterson expressed concern that admitting each exhibit individually was not efficient as it might result in the parties asserting the same arguments already considered by the Commission at the March 3, 2026, hearing. She noted that the objections and arguments are preserved as part of the adjudication record in the event of an appeal. Discussion ensued as to whether the exhibits should be admitted all at once or one at a time. Commissioner Ricci noted that the parties may address any evidentiary issues in their post-trial memoranda. Upon motion made by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Rabideau, it was unanimously
VOTED: To admit in full all the exhibits that were the subject of the Respondent’s motion to exclude heard on March 3, 2026, but which the Commission denied.
Chair Jones next addressed the four exhibits for which the Commission deferred its decision at the March 3, 2026, hearing. Chief Prosecutor Gramitt noted that there are three additional pre-marked exhibits that were not before the Commission at the March 3, 2026, hearing. He explained that these are the certifications from the Governor’s office and the Department of Administration, and a certification from the Ethics Commission with respect to the Respondent’s 2023 financial statement which is already a full exhibit. Chief Prosecutor Gramitt requested that these certifications, P34 (Ethics Commission), P35 (DOA), and P36 (Governor’s office), be admitted as full exhibits, to which Attorney Bristow did not object. Chief Prosecutor Gramitt stated that he is not renewing his objections to the two exhibits that the Commission voted to exclude on March 3, 2026.
Chief Prosecutor Gramitt addressed the deferred exhibits, P12, P21, P27, and P31. He stated that he is withdrawing exhibit P12, an email thread containing some redactions from the DOA. Chief Prosecutor Gramitt requested that the three remaining exhibits be admitted into evidence in full. Attorney Bristow represented that he understood from the March 3, 2026, hearing that these exhibits were being deferred to allow the Commission to hear testimony at trial that would assist it in ascertaining their admissibility. In response to Chair Jones, Attorney Bristow represented that he did not object to the authenticity of exhibit P27, an email authored by the Respondent. Chair Jones commented that with respect to exhibits P21 and P31, the Commission will hear testimony before ruling. All Commissioners concurred. Attorney Bristow explained that the Respondent’s counsel had submitted five exhibits, RA, RB, RC, RD, and RE, as full exhibits by agreement of the parties.
At the conclusion of the Commission’s consideration of evidentiary matters, counsel for the parties presented their opening statements.
At 10:20 a.m., the Commission briefly recessed the adjudication and resumed at 10:32 a.m.
Chief Prosecutor Gramitt called the Respondent as a witness. The Respondent was subject to both direct and cross-examination.
At the close of all the evidence, both sides rested. Chair Jones informed that at the next hearing the attorneys may respond to opposing counsel’s post-trial memoranda and offer closing arguments, after which the Commission will deliberate. Chair Jones advised that the Commissioners may now ask questions of the Respondent, who is still under oath. In response to Commissioner Ricci, the Respondent stated that he was not reimbursed by the State of Rhode Island for his payment of the meals in Philadelphia. Chair Jones informed that the evidentiary portion of the adjudication was closed.
A consensus was obtained to continue the adjudication to April 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. In response to Commissioner Cenerini, Chair Jones stated that the Commission will convene in executive session to deliberate after closing arguments are presented on April 8th. Legal Counsel DeSimone informed that only he and the Commissioners will be present during deliberations, after which the Commission will reconvene in open session to vote.
At 2:21 p.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Peterson and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously
VOTED: To adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
Emma L. Peterson
Secretary