Businessman at Heart of Rowland Probe

In 2001, an angry executive wrote to Matthews regarding a stalled business deal: "You again assured me (it) would happen quickly because of your personal relationship with Governor Rowland."

Shortly after Rowland's former deputy chief of staff pleaded guilty last year to steering state contracts, Matthews responded to media reports with an op-ed piece in The Hartford Courant titled "My Friend The Governor."

"Based on what you see in the newspapers the past few weeks, you'd think it's a crime to be friends with anyone elected to state office," Matthews wrote.

But as evidence mounted against Matthews, he disappeared from public view. His attorney, Hubert Santos, has said nothing about the case and did not return a phone call seeking comment from The Associated Press.

Investigators want to know whether Matthews and the governor had a quid-pro-quo relationship.

"Obviously, money was being channeled to him (Rowland), and in return for that particular financial benefit, he took care of his friend Matthews," said Republican state Rep. Ray Kalinowski, a member of the impeachment committee.

"That's the inference that's out there. I don't think you have to be around the block that long to understand that."

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Associated Press reporter John Christoffersen contributed to this report.