An investigation into allegations that a conservative think-tank hacked into the state email system to spread false information about a proposed agreement between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the state employee unions has turned up no proof of malfeasance.
"We have found no evidence that the state e-mail system was improperly accessed or hacked,'' Attorney General George Jepsen said in a statement released this afternoon.
"Our review of the e-mails provided by SEBAC, and other selected e-mails that originated from IP addresses outside the state system, did not show that the state e-mail system was improperly accessed or compromised in violation of state laws or policies,'' Jepsen said."Therefore, based on the evidence to date, and with the agreement of the State Auditors, I am closing the investigation."
Representatives from the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, an umbrella group representing 15 state employee unions, had sought the investigation. They claimed repeatedly that the Yankee Institute for Public Policy had waged a concerted campaign against the proposed agreement, an effort that included hacking into state computers to spread misinformation.
SEBAC has issued a statement on the dismissal of the complaint.
The Yankee Institute had maintained all along that the charges were bogus and today, the group's executive director expressed relief at its public exoneration.
"We're grateful and relieved but not surprised,'' Cullen said. "We appreciate that the attorney general gave this a speedy review and of course we're grateful for the full exoneration."
From the start, Cullen had characterized SEBAC's allegations "paranoid" and "delusional."
"Making reckless accusations without a shred of evidence damaged the union's credibility,'' he added. "Rank and file state employees deserve better for their dues than the stunning incompetence of union staff throughout the concessions ratification process."