- Net worth
- Unknown
- Crimes
- corruption, obstruction
- Convicted of
- Conspiracy to steal honest services (first); election fraud; obstruction of justice (second)
- Original sentence
- 10 months (first conviction); 30 months (second conviction)
- Time served
- Served both terms before pardon
Background
John G. Rowland served as governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004. He resigned in July 2004 amid a corruption scandal and was twice convicted of federal crimes.
The Case
In 2004, Rowland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal honest services, admitting he accepted approximately $90,000 in luxury flights and other benefits from state contractors in a pay-to-play scheme. He served 10 months in prison. In 2014, he was convicted of election fraud and obstruction of justice for creating sham contracts to hide his work on political campaigns and to impede the federal investigation; he was sentenced to 30 months, and the conviction was upheld on appeal. His conduct betrayed the public trust, corrupted state contracting, and undermined the integrity of elections and investigations.
The Pardon
On May 28, 2025, President Trump granted Rowland a full pardon.