Connecticut lawmaker, education official face US charges

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut state senator and a former chairperson of the Bridgeport Board of Education surrendered to authorities Tuesday after being indicted on federal charges, according to federal prosecutors.

Bridgeport Democratic Sen. Dennis Bradley and former school board Chairperson Jessica Martinez turned themselves in to U.S. marshals in New Haven, the Connecticut U.S. attorney's office said in a statement.

Details of the charges were not immediately released. Prosecutors said the indictments are sealed pending court appearances Tuesday afternoon.

Bradley was first elected in 2018 to represent the 23rd state Senate district, which includes Bridgeport. A deputy majority leader, he is co-chairman of the General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee, which oversees issues ranging from police and fire training and emergency preparedness to state building codes and legalized gambling.

The Senate was expected to consider a major gambling and sports betting bill on Tuesday. Typically, the committee co-chairman would lead that debate.

According to Bradley’s legislative bio, he is an attorney at Bradley, Denkovich & Karayiannis Law Group, a civil litigation and personal injury law firm. He also served as chairman on the Bridgeport Board of Education from 2015 to 2019.

Martinez still serves on the Bridgeport school board after being removed as chairperson last year, the Connecticut Post reported.