41 Facts About Gordon Fox

Gordon Dennis Fox was born on December 21,1961 and is an American attorney and politician from Providence, Rhode Island.

Gordon Fox served formerly as the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, before resigning in disgrace.

On June 11,2015 Fox was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges including bribery, fraud, and filing a false tax return.

Gordon Fox was elected Speaker on February 11,2010 as the first openly gay Rhode Island man to hold that office.

Gordon Fox resigned from the Speakership on the evening of March 22,2014 following an FBI raid on his Smith Hill office and his home on Providence's East Side.

The FBI found Gordon Fox to have stolen $108,000 in campaign contributions and accepted $52,000 in bribes.

Gordon Fox completed his sentence at Canaan US Penitentiary in Waymart, Pennsylvania and was released in February, 2018.

Gordon Dennis Fox was born on December 21,1961, at Providence, Rhode Island.

Mary Gordon Fox was of Cape Verdean lineage, and Mr Gordon Fox was of Irish-American descent.

Mr Gordon Fox was an artisan and served as a jewelry polisher, while his wife Mary served on private home staffs and later at a golf ball manufacturer.

Gordon Fox's parents met while his father was stopped in Providence on return to Boston after service in the Korean War.

Gordon Fox earned a degree in history and political science at Rhode Island College.

Gordon Fox then earned his Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

Gordon Fox unsuccessfully ran for the Providence City Council in the mid-1980s.

Gordon Fox resigned from the Board of Licenses in December 2009.

Gordon Fox was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in November 1992.

Gordon Fox represented the 4th district, which included parts of the East Side of Providence, namely the Mount Hope, Summit and Blackstone neighborhoods.

In 1993, Fox backed John B Harwood over the more liberal Russell Bramley for Speaker.

Gordon Fox stated that he supported Harwood because he was a departure from the previous House leadership and because he was supported by Fox's mentor, George Caruolo.

In October 2001, Gordon Fox became chairman of the House Finance Committee.

On March 30,2004, Gordon Fox came out publicly at a rally in support of same-sex marriage at the State House.

At the time he came out, Gordon Fox was the only openly gay member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Gordon Fox received 51 votes to Schadone's 14 and Watson's 5.

Gordon Fox became the state's first African-American and first gay Speaker of the House.

Gordon Fox was the first openly gay house speaker in the United States, although Assemblyman John Perez was elected to the speakership of the California State Assembly several weeks before Fox.

Perez was not sworn in as speaker until March 1,2010, whereas Gordon Fox took office almost three weeks earlier on February 11.

Unlike Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed, who was opposed to same-sex marriage and was known to block attempts to bring the issue before the Senate, Speaker Fox was integral to bringing the legislation to the House floor for votes.

Gordon Fox would go on to be a key component for marriage equality in Rhode Island.

Gordon Fox remained a member of the house, but did not run for reelection.

On March 3,2015, Gordon Fox pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bribery and filing a false tax return.

Gordon Fox admitted to using $108,000 from his campaign account for personal expenses, accepting a $52,000 bribe to push for the issuance of a liquor license for a Providence restaurant in his role as a member of the Board of Licenses, and failing to declare these illegal sources income on his tax returns.

Gordon Fox pled guilty and in June, 2015 was sentenced to serve three years in federal prison for public corruption.

In 2004, Gordon Fox was fined $10,000 by the state Ethics Commission for voting in favor of granting GTECH Corporation, a company his law firm represented, an exclusive, 20-year, $770 million contract with the Rhode Island Lottery.

Gordon Fox recused himself during major votes before the Board of Licenses involving Tomasso, but occasionally voted on smaller issues.

Gordon Fox was criticized for voting on issues involving Fatty McGee's, a bar he represented.

Gordon Fox was criticized for his close, personal connection to Michael Corso, a consultant for 38 Studios.

The collapse of 38 Studios caused Gordon Fox faced a tough reelection fight in 2012 against independent Mark Binder.

In January 2014, Gordon Fox was fined $1,500 by the state Ethics Commission for violating a state law that requires public officials to file financial disclosures when they do work for public agencies.

Gordon Fox failed to report the almost $43,000 he earned from preparing loan documents for Providence's economic development agency.

Gordon Fox was awarded an honorary doctorate from Rhode Island College in 2010, but the college rescinded the degree in 2015 stating "Fox has demonstrated a lack of the core values" required.

Gordon Fox married Marcus LaFond on November 12,2013 in Gordon Fox's state house office.