State Senator Thomas Gaffey was arrested Monday morning on larceny charges, according to the Chief State's Attorney's office.
The eight-term State Senator turned himself into Connecticut State Police in Hartford Monday and was arrested on six counts of misdemeanor charges.
In a statement released after his arrest, Gaffey said he will plead guilty when he appears in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday and will resign from the Senate.
"I have decided that the best course of action for everyone involved is for me to walk off the political battlefield. My family and I have suffered immensely throughout this long ordeal and need closure. This ordeal needs to end and I have decided to end it now,” Gaffey said.
The charges relate to double dipping for travel expenses on six different occasions between 2004 and 2007. The State Elections Enforcement Commission investigated the allegations in 2008 and 2009.
The Meriden Democrat admitted mistakes were made and paid back most of the money, that totaled $2,800. Gaffey was ordered to pay a $6,000 fine, plus forfeit more than $10,000 in GAF-PAC funds.
But the State's Attorney’s office launched a criminal investigation and issued an arrest warrant last week, that spell out the larceny charges.
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Many of the details are not new information. They were out in the open as Gaffey ran for re-election to his ninth term in November and won.
“I am surprised. I don't think he should get reelected if they knew about it,” said Rachel Villalba of Middletown
"If he admitted to it, I think he can stay. People make mistakes. He made a mistake,” said Joseph Kadish of Meriden.
Gaffey acknowledged there is nothing in the plea agreement that forces him to step down and thanked his supporters, but said, "The people of my district deserve a "fresh start" with a senator without the unnecessary baggage of controversy."
Republicans responded with Senate Minority Leader John McKinney releasing this statement, "The crimes Senator Gaffey committed and will plead guilty to, as well as his prior violations of state elections law, undermine the public trust placed in elected officials.
His resignation is the first step toward repairing that trust."
In the statement, Gaffey said he will plead guilty and perform 100 hours of community service.
