Several Tea Party activists, former Marines and parents of Marines went to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office today to ask him to issue a legal opinion on whether the Gadsden flag should fly over the state Capitol.
Blumenthal wasn't there -- he was at Quantico, Va. because his son, a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves, is graduating from a training program, his office said.
However, he spoke with members of the group by speaker phone and later issued a statement on the Gadsdan controversy.
Republican State Sens. Toni Boucher and Sam Caligiuri had drafted letters to Blumenthal asking him to look into the legal implications of the state's flag policy and whether a decsion by Capitol police to prevent the flag from flying is consistent with that policy.
According to state statute, the only lawmakers that can request a legal opinion from the AG are the president of the state Senate, the Speaker of the House and the majority and minority leaders of both houses. Neither Caligiuri nor Boucher hold those titles.
"I have received requests regarding the Gadsden flag from state Sen. Boucher and state Sen. Caligiuri, which I am reviewing,'' Blumenthal said in a statement released by his office this afternoon. "I am barred by statute from issuing formal opinions except to specified officials such as legislative leaders or the governor. Although neither state senator is among the list of officials who may request a formal opinion, I will consider their letters and respond appropriately."