Edward D. DiPrete
Encyclopedia
Edward Daniel DiPrete is an American
Republican Party
politician from Rhode Island
.
DiPrete served as the 70th Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1991, and was defeated for reelection in a landslide by former federal attorney and millionaire businessman Bruce Sundlun
in 1990, who had twice lost to DiPrete who was one of the few Rhode Island Governors in recent history to be elected for 3 terms, all the more noteworthy because he was a Republican in a state where Democrats consistently control both houses of the Legislature with a hold of 85-90% majority.
DiPrete was born in Cranston, Rhode Island
. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
, and received honorary degrees from Holy Cross, Providence College
, Bryant College
and the University of Rhode Island
. From 1970 to 1974, he served on the Cranston School Committee. From 1974 to 1978, he served as an at-large member of the Cranston City Council. He served as mayor of the city from 1978 to 1985.
Although all charges were previously dismissed in March, 1997 by a Rhode Island Superior Court
Judge who also found the Attorney General's office guilty of 10 findings of "egregious prosecutorial misconduct" (all 10 upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court
), in December 1998, he pleaded guilty to state charges of bribery
, extortion
and racketeering, and was sentenced to a year in prison after he admitted (in a plea bargain) accepting $250,000 in exchange for state contracts during his term as Governor. DiPrete agreed to this plea bargain only after assurance that pending charges against a family member would be dismissed. Those charges, in their entirety against his son were dismissed prior to the Governor telling the court he agreed with the plea bargain. In addition, his state retirement pension was revoked, despite attempts to have it reinstated.
Subsequently, the State Supreme Court overturned the denial of DiPrete's pension benefits to his wife and remanded the case back to Superior Court for a new hearing. Because of a degenerative neurological disease, Mrs. DiPrete, notified the court through her attorney, she wished to terminate the request, and the new hearing ordered by the Supreme Court did not proceed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
DiPrete served as the 70th Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1991, and was defeated for reelection in a landslide by former federal attorney and millionaire businessman Bruce Sundlun
Bruce Sundlun
Bruce Sundlun was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as 71st Governor of Rhode Island from 1991 to 1995. He was Rhode Island's second Jewish governor, and the only Jewish governor in the United States during his two terms...
in 1990, who had twice lost to DiPrete who was one of the few Rhode Island Governors in recent history to be elected for 3 terms, all the more noteworthy because he was a Republican in a state where Democrats consistently control both houses of the Legislature with a hold of 85-90% majority.
DiPrete was born in Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, and received honorary degrees from Holy Cross, Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
, Bryant College
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
and the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
. From 1970 to 1974, he served on the Cranston School Committee. From 1974 to 1978, he served as an at-large member of the Cranston City Council. He served as mayor of the city from 1978 to 1985.
Although all charges were previously dismissed in March, 1997 by a Rhode Island Superior Court
Rhode Island Superior Court
The Rhode Island Superior Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction in Rhode Island.-Jurisdiction:It has original jurisdiction in all felony proceedings, civil matters with an amount in controversy in excess of $10,000, and all matters of equity...
Judge who also found the Attorney General's office guilty of 10 findings of "egregious prosecutorial misconduct" (all 10 upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Rhode Island Supreme Court
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, founded in 1747, is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. The current Justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are:*Chief Justice Paul A...
), in December 1998, he pleaded guilty to state charges of bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and racketeering, and was sentenced to a year in prison after he admitted (in a plea bargain) accepting $250,000 in exchange for state contracts during his term as Governor. DiPrete agreed to this plea bargain only after assurance that pending charges against a family member would be dismissed. Those charges, in their entirety against his son were dismissed prior to the Governor telling the court he agreed with the plea bargain. In addition, his state retirement pension was revoked, despite attempts to have it reinstated.
Subsequently, the State Supreme Court overturned the denial of DiPrete's pension benefits to his wife and remanded the case back to Superior Court for a new hearing. Because of a degenerative neurological disease, Mrs. DiPrete, notified the court through her attorney, she wished to terminate the request, and the new hearing ordered by the Supreme Court did not proceed.