Political Intrigue in Cranston: Blackmail Allegations, Police Investigation, and Resignation
Cranston, Rhode Island, has become engulfed in a political storm marked by allegations of blackmail and misuse of power, leading to a State Police investigation and the abrupt resignation of City Council member Aniece Germain.
Germain, the first Black woman and Haitian-American to serve on the City Council, claims that fellow Democrats gave her an ultimatum: surrender her seat or face public hearings into her nonprofit’s fundraising activities after its tax-exempt status was revoked. Germain alleges that City Council President Jessica Marino yelled at her and threatened to humiliate her and her children if she did not resign.
Marino vehemently denies these allegations, calling them “sensational, false, and malicious.” She maintains that she did not want Germain removed from the City Council and valued her as a colleague. Marino asserts that she attempted to handle the matter discreetly, as any decent person would, but Germain chose to involve the media.
Germain, who was appointed to the City Council in 2020 after Paul McAuley’s unexpected resignation, announced her resignation on April 12. She cited ongoing power dynamics in Cranston politics and challenges faced by her organization, Hope and Change for Haiti, as reasons for her decision.
Germain, the nonprofit’s assistant director, explained that Hope and Change for Haiti was dealing with challenges due to a consequential filing error. The federal tax-exempt status of the organization was revoked in May 2022, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Germain claims that Marino assumed she was soliciting money from people without providing them with a letter of exemption for their taxes. However, she maintains that the organization suspended all fund-raising activities after learning of its revoked status.
Germain questions the authority of the City Council president over matters involving a nonprofit. She emphasizes that she is not under investigation, indicted, or convicted and believes the situation is an inside job within the Democratic Party, who were planning to challenge her in a primary election.
Kristen E. Haroian was appointed to fill the vacancy created by Germain’s resignation. Haroian, a Cranston School Committee member, was reluctant to comment on Germain’s allegations but expressed her belief that they were inaccurate based on the parties involved.
Cranston Republican Party Chairman John Colasante criticized Marino for “jamming through” Haroian’s appointment. He called for the State Police to thoroughly investigate the situation and expressed concern about the tactics used to remove Germain from the council.
Marino responded by accusing Colasante of manipulating the situation and attempting to create a scandal out of nothing. She thanked supporters for their understanding and expressed her sincere well wishes for Germain, while dismissing the Republican Party’s attempt to sensationalize the matter.
The State Police investigation is ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain. The allegations and turmoil within Cranston politics have raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and the use of power in local government.
