A justice serving on New Hampshire’s Supreme Court has been indicted for allegedly attempting to obstruct a criminal investigation involving her husband. This announcement was made by New Hampshire’s Attorney General, John Formella, on Wednesday.
Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi was indicted by a grand jury in Merrimack County, facing serious charges that include two felonies and five misdemeanors, as detailed by Formella in his official statement.
Marconi faces two class B felony charges: one for attempting to improperly influence the investigation and another for soliciting such influence. Additionally, she is charged with five class A misdemeanors that comprise two counts of criminal solicitation regarding the misuse of her position, one count of criminal solicitation for official oppression, one count of official oppression, and one count of obstructing government administration.
Formella emphasized that justice applies to everyone, stating, “No person is above the law, and the evidence in this case necessitated investigation and presentation to the grand jury.” He noted that the decision to charge an active Supreme Court Justice was not made lightly, highlighting the delicate nature of the deliberation process. Formella expressed hope that the public can find reassurance in the idea that public officials are also subject to the law.
Marconi’s legal representatives, Richard Guerriero, Jonathan Kotlier, and Oliver Bloom, maintain her innocence, asserting that she has not broken any laws or ethical rules. They indicated intentions to vigorously contest the charges, promising to initiate motions to dismiss in the near future. Their statement conveyed a commitment to address what they label as false allegations in a courtroom, rather than in the media.
One of the accusations specifies that Marconi allegedly informed Governor Chris Sununu that the investigation into her husband, Geno Marconi, was influenced by “personal petty and/or political biases,” claiming there was no basis for the allegations and urging for a swift conclusion to the investigation because she recused herself from critical cases before the court.
Furthermore, Marconi is accused of attempting to persuade Governor Sununu to sway members of the New Hampshire Department of Justice regarding the ongoing inquiry. At this time, an email seeking a comment from a representative of Governor Sununu had not received a reply.
In New Hampshire, class B felonies carry potential sentences ranging from 3.5 to 7 years in prison, accompanied by fines up to $4,000. Class A misdemeanors can lead to up to a year in a correctional facility and fines of as much as $2,000.
Attorney General Formella stated that the investigation has concluded, clarifying that no other individuals were implicated, and the inquiry did not reveal any misconduct by other parties involved.