Putting an end to personal use of state vehicles

In November 2024, Inside Investigator published Drive Time: Former Lamont Chief of Staff racked up personal miles on state cars, an investigation showing how Jonathan Dach, former Chief of Staff to Governor Lamont, was using state vehicles for extensive personal travel, including out-of-state trips, and exceeding the speed limit, occasionally topping out at over 100mph. A follow-up investigation showed Dach was working far less in his advisory role to the governor, despite collecting a hefty paycheck at taxpayers’ expense.”

The release of this information, public pressure, and accusations of entitlement at taxpayer expense led to promises of amends, the hiring of a firm to conduct an outside legal investigation, and promises from the Office of the Governor to “review the state’s policy for motor vehicles used for state business.”

When the independent investigation report was released in June 2025, it confirmed Marc’s reporting and lambasted Dach for claiming he did not know the policy around vehicle usage. “We further believe it to be common sense that one cannot use state property for personal activities without any approval or accountability,” investigators stated.

Marc’s investigative work received awards from the Connecticut Press Club and National Federation of Press Women, and his findings were further confirmed by the Connecticut State Auditors in October 2025.

Investigation into a troubled home for teens spurs changes at DCF

After being published on September 10, 2023, Marc’s investigation titled Grave Concern: A DCF-funded shelter for teen girls loses control, ignited state officials, media, and those who had suffered at the hands of the STAR program officials to demand change. 

The story received coverage in almost every outlet in the state, was featured regionally, and was followed by multiple arrests, several lawsuits, the resignation of the DCF Commissioner, and the closure of the troubled home. 

Since the initial fallout, the issues were taken up by the state legislature, and the STAR Program was revamped to better address the needs of troubled youths.

Marc’s investigative work was awarded the 2023 SPN Powerful Storytelling Award, first place for continuing coverage and unfolding news in the 2023 Connecticut Press Club Awards, and third place for unfolding news from the National Federation of Press Club Women.

Governor quietly fills board positions, ensuring oversight work of executive agencies can continue

In April 2024, Inside Investigator published Hidden Hand: State contracting board clashes with executive director – investigating why a board with power over executive branch agencies and their contracting practices was understaffed and prohibited from meeting. The investigation explored accusations of unprofessionalism, exceeding statutory authority, and claims of harassment, as well as some board members’ belief that the Lamont administration intentionally caused the logjam in retaliation for the board looking into scandals at the CT Port Authority.

Less than a month after the initial investigation and continuing coverage, the Governor quietly made two appointments with no press releases or formal announcement, clearing the way for the board to continue their work of providing oversight of executive branch agency contracting practices.

Governor removes Board of Pardons and Paroles Chair Following Inside Investigator detailing 44 murder commutations

Between 2021 and 2022, the BOPP commuted the sentences of 71 individuals in prison on felony charges, including 44 murder convictions. Prior to that, the highest number of commutations in a year had only been three. 

Inside Investigator Senior Investigative Reporter Marc E. Fitch put a spotlight on each of the commutations, leading to a pause in the commutations, legislative and public outcry, a policy battle in the Connecticut Senate, and the removal of the Board Chair until his reinstatement in a split vote. 

Marc’s article went on to win first place for in-depth reporting at the Connecticut Press Club 2023 Awards and third place for in-depth reporting from the National Federation of Press Women.

Brookfield Special Education Director involved in “blackmail for services” contract resigns following Inside Investigator deep-dive

Just a few weeks after Denise Rice spoke during the November BOE meeting she received, through her lawyer, a contract offer from Brookfield’s administration potentially worth millions to move her son out of the school system he had come to know as his “second home.” The contract was lucrative, but included a catch: She had to shut up.

Marc E. Fitch’s investigation, titled Hush Money: One special education mom’s fight against the Brookfield Board of Ed., was released on April 30. Two months later, following public outcry, the Director tendered her resignation.

Green Bank stripped of special privileges following investigation

After it came to light that the Connecticut Green Bank was awarding no-bid contracts to Inclusive Prosperity Capital (IPC), a nonprofit it created with seven of the Green Bank’s employees, the organization was stripped from a solar bill, allowing municipalities applying for school construction grants to use the contractor of their choice for financing.

The original investigation, written by Marc E. Fitch, explored how IPC’s bids to finance state solar projects ranged from 7 percent higher than the lowest bidder, to 73 percent higher, with an average of 48 percent across all bids.

CT legislature proposes reforms to investigations of intimate partner violence after Inside Investigator exposed mistreatment by CCSU

Following the publication of Behind Closed Doors: CCSU’s broken assault accountability system, Rep. Donna Veach (R-Berlin) and Cosponsor Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Middlefield) introduced House Bill 6099, An Act Concerning Investigations of Intimate Partner Violence by Institutions of Higher Education. 

Inside Investigator’s coverage drew legislative attention after exposing that an abused individual, who was not a student at the university, notified CCSU’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities of her assault, and the university did not allow her or her family to participate in the disciplinary proceedings against the accused student. Additionally, in its handling of the case, CCSU violated a number of its own policies regarding its Student Code of Conduct and the rights of victims of intimate partner violence, including the victim’s right to know the outcome of the disciplinary hearing. 

After failing to become law in 2023, the bill was reintroduced in 2024.

State declines further investment in underperforming funds

In May 2023, researchers Jeffery Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian from the Yale School of Management released an intensive study cataloging Connecticut’s pension investments and performance over the past two decades. They found that Connecticut had underperformed all but one other state in terms of pension returns, costing taxpayers billions. They wrote that if Connecticut’s investments had returned just the median investment return of other states, it would have resulted in $27 billion more over the last decade. The investment suffered, in part, they said, because of the use of “obscure asset managers” with high fees and lackluster returns. 

Inside Investigator took a closer look at how these investments came to be, who made the investment decisions, and found a network of cozy relationships and a history of unilateral decision-making, even over the objections of Connecticut’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC).

The investigation spurred a public response from Fairview Capital, an examination of the investments by the IAC, and a reevaluation of investment practices by the state. Connecticut subsequently decided to forego further investment in Fairview Capital funds, part of the state’s move from second to eighth worst pension performance in the year following the investigation.

Marc’s investigation went on to receive first-place recognition in the 2023 Connecticut Press Club awards and an Honorable Mention from the National Federation of Press Women.