By Richard Weizel
MILFORD Conn. (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss charges that former Connecticut Governor John Rowland violated campaign finance laws while working as an adviser to congressional campaigns after leaving office.
District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven ruled that a jury must decide whether the charges against Rowland, a Republican who was forced to resign in 2004, are justified.
Rowland, 57, pleaded not guilty in April to charges of conspiracy, falsifying records in a federal investigation, causing false statements to be made to the Federal Election Commission and causing illegal campaign contributions while working as a campaign adviser from 2009 to 2012.