Photo of Mark Binder. Photo | Steve Klamkin

Challenger to house speaker tries to tie Fox to 38 Studios

Posted: 7/26/2012 2:44:11 PM
Updated: 7/26/2012 3:02:25 PM

Mark Binder, Independent challenger to House Speaker Gordon Fox held a news conference Thursday outside of  the former offices of 38 Studios, calling for an investigation of a campaign contribution that the Speaker accepted from the tax credit broker at 38 Studios.

“This looks a lot like another case of hidden cost, insider benefits and poor accounting which reminds me a lot of the 38 Studios disaster. Today I am calling for a state and federal investigation into the campaign contributions from and the relationship between Michael Corso [38 Studios tax credit broker] and Gordon Fox,” said Binder.

In 2007 Fox held a fundraiser at Tazza Café, a business owned by Corso. Fox never reported the in-kind contribution of approximately $648 for catering services offered by Corso.

According to Fox spokesperson Larry Berman Fox was legally entitled to change his report and the issue should not be in question.

Binder used the situation to lay the blame for the $75 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to Curt Schilling’s video game company. “The 38 Studios deal did not exist until after Michael Corso and Gordon Fox and Curt Schilling got together and made it happen. That’s what seems to be the starting point of moving it forward in our state legislature and into law and out of our pockets.”

Berman rejected the claim saying the fundraiser was hosted five years before the 38 Studios loan.