Editorial: Carnevale's dubious claim

A great deal of evidence suggests that state Rep. John Carnevale, a Democrat in a leadership position, is lying to the people about where he lives.

He says Providence. But he has rented out his Barbara Street house in that city to tenants; promised on a mortgage document that his Johnston house (outside his legislative district) would be his primary residence; and was found by WPRI-12 reporters to be spending most of his time at the Johnston property – a property he failed to disclose to the Ethics Commission for nine years. When he evidently caught a glimpse of cameras filming him in Johnston, he hid his face with a T-shirt, a literal cover-up. (He later said he shielded his face because of allergies.) The TV station also discovered that two ex-tenants at the Barbara Street house “said they were instructed to claim he lived there if asked, even though they say he did not.”

One might think that under such circumstances, Representative Carnevale would resign his position and apologize to the public. But at a hearing of the Providence Board of Canvassers Wednesday, Mr. Carnevale doubled down on his claim. He swore under oath that he lives at the Barbara Street house, and cited his driver's license, car registration, income tax return address, credit card, bank account and other documents as evidence. (His lawyer at the hearing was another member of leadership, House Speaker Pro Tempore Robert Jacquard, D-Cranston.)

Even so, the hearing revealed yet more evidence that Mr. Carnevale really lives in Johnston. The former Providence police officer, who retired in 2007 with a tax-free disability pension, is receiving information about his city-paid medical benefits from CVS Health and Delta Dental at the Johnston address, Ken Chiavarini, Providence’s assistant city solicitor, revealed.

Mr. Carnevale’s lame response? He said he is “very surprised by that.”

If he is not really living in Johnston, does that mean he lied to his mortgage company in promising to make that his primary residence — a document he has not amended? Would deceiving a lender subject him to any consequences?

We have seen a culture of rot eat away at the State House in recent years. As we have noted on these pages, people in powerful positions in Rhode Island politics have repeatedly displayed arrogance, obstinacy, shamelessness, a contempt for disclosure, indifference to the public’s wishes and/or a desire to exploit public office to serve themselves. Some members seem to believe they are free to lie to the public, or free to deceive those with whom they sign contracts, or free even to break the law.

Under our easygoing state law, it seems doubtful the Board of Canvassers will establish that Mr. Carnevale is not living where he claims to be living and voting. If it did, however, perjury charges might be in order. It would be nice to send a message that lying under oath is unacceptable behavior for powerful public officials in Rhode Island.