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4.11.2001 00:12
Cianci wisecracks with Imus, takes shots at federal probe
 The mayor tells the nationally syndicated radio host of a prosecutor's decision to share an undercover FBI videotape with friends. "I guess Blockbuster was closed that night," Cianci jokes.
BY W. ZACHARY MALINOWSKI
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE
-- With an accordion playing the
The Godfather
theme as a backdrop, Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. appeared on a nationally syndicated radio program yesterday and continued to profess his innocence against federal corruption charges.
Cianci, in a 15-minute interview on the
Imus in the Morning
show broadcast locally on WHJJ-AM, was, as usual, entertaining. He discussed his legal predicament, the birth of a polar bear at Roger Williams Park Zoo, and the recent census figures that show an increase in population in the city.
He also talked about having to remove his toupee for a mugshot.
The sympathetic host, Don Imus, posed questions from serious to silly at the mayor who was indicted last week and accused of running a criminal enterprise out of City Hall.
"Good morning, Imus, how are you?" Cianci said.
Imus proceeded to inform the mayor that he must soon report for jury duty in New York City, where he lives and broadcasts his show live each weekday morning.
"I wish you would be on mine," Cianci joked. "I wish you would change venues."
Imus, whose show also appears live on MSNBC television weekday mornings, had a copy of the 97-page indictment in his studio and asked Cianci about the 30 criminal counts that have been lodged against him.
"Absolutely, not guilty," the mayor said. "It's like Mario Puzo wrote that indictment. Awful."
Puzo is the author of
The Godfather,
the epic novel turned into a classic film that chronicled the lives of a Mafia family in New York City and Italy.
Cianci portrayed himself as an innocent victim who is trying to run a city as the powerful forces of government, who have unlimited time and resources, continue their campaign to bring him down.
"These people come across as holier than thou," Cianci said. "They're the leaders of the free world. When you go against the United States of America, you're going against the FBI, the IRS, the Coast Guard, the Navy SEALs. And here you are, all alone."
Then, he attacked his attackers.
The mayor alluded to the front page of yesterday's Providence Journal, which published a story about how Richard W. Rose, the lead federal prosecutor in the investigation, showed portions of an undercover videotape to his sister and two friends.
"I guess Blockbuster's [video] was closed that night," Cianci said. "I wonder if he sold popcorn."
Rose's friends, lawyer Casby Harrison III and his wife, Mary Sylvia Harrison, viewed a portion of a videotape after they stopped by Rose's home last summer.
Cianci told Imus that since the indictment was handed up last week, the judge assigned to the case -- Ronald R. Lagueux -- has recused himself, the government's star witness -- Antonio R. Freitas -- is in prison on domestic assault charges, and Rose violated a court order by playing the videotape.
Cianci also resurrected a problem that W. Dennis Aiken, the FBI agent who has spearheaded the investigation, was punished for 19 years ago.
In 1982, Aiken was the subject of an internal FBI censure for saying under oath that he had not signed an unsworn FBI document when he had done so.
Cianci also took a shot at Governor Almond, who last week urged Cianci to resign.
"That's about the first thing he's done in a year," the mayor said. "He doesn't show up too much."
Cianci refused to bite when Imus suggested that he might be a victim of "ethnic profiling."
Said Cianci: "I don't want to get into that. The support has been so good. I walk into a place all over the city and the state and people are clapping."
Imus posed a few questions to Cianci about alleged crimes in the indictment. Specifically, Imus asked him about the indictment's allegations that he extorted his way into a membership at the University Club, that Christopher Ise paid city officials $5,000 to get a job in the Planning Department, and alleged payoffs from tow-truck operators to get city business.
Cianci denied the charges.
Imus asked Cianci if the authorities had arraigned, fingerprinted and booked him. Cianci said they had, and pointed out that the federal marshals treated him well.
"Did they make you take off your rug?" Imus said.
"Absolutely," the mayor said.
"Is there any way you can get me that picture?" Imus said.
Cianci broke out in laughter.
At the end of the interview, Imus, who has had Cianci on as a guest about a dozen times, said he hoped the mayor was right.
"Don't let us find out down the line that you're jerking my chain, because then I'll look like a dope," Imus said.
Afterward, Cianci went to the Rhode Island Convention Center for the Business Expo, a local trade show where businesses rent booths to promote their products. He gave a vintage Cianci performance, touting the city's transformation under his watch. He received a warm round of applause.
Before starting his speech, Cianci turned to Howard Sutton, publisher of The Providence Journal and one of those who was sharing the stage with about a dozen dignitaries.
The chamber's chairman, Fred Lohrum, had previously thanked Sutton for a special section on the expo, which was included in Sunday's newspaper.
I thank you, too, Cianci said, "for the 26-page spread," referring to the comprehensive coverage the paper gave his indictment and arraignment. The audience cracked up.
This afternoon, NBC
Today
show co-host Matt Lauer is scheduled to interview Cianci for a segment that will air next week.
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