Draft report released on Connecticut governor

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. John G. Rowland knew that a businessman received an unfair advantage in winning a $57 million state contract but did nothing to stop the deal, according to a draft report from the committee that considered his impeachment.

The 38-page report was released Monday by the House Select Committee of Inquiry — exactly one week after Rowland announced his resignation amid a series of graft allegations.

The report does not reach any conclusions about whether Rowland committed crimes or impeachable offenses. The draft report was written by lawyers for the House Select Committee of Inquiry; the final report will be released later by the lawmakers themselves.

Rowland's sudden resignation announcement put a halt to the committee's hearings before his lawyers presented any defense and without the embattled governor ever testifying.