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Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s former US attorney has a new job in private practice – The Boston Globe
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island’s former US attorney, who recently resigned at President Trump’s behest, has a new job.
Zachary Cunha joined the Providence office of prominent Boston-based law firm Nixon Peabody as a partner Monday, where he will focus on government investigations and white-collar defense.
Cunha, who was a federal prosecutor for 20 years, told the Globe he will be “representing individuals and companies who are either being investigated by government entities or facing complex litigation.”
He will work on both criminal and civil cases, he said. The cases may involve the Department of Justice, though he cannot take cases he personally worked on while he was US attorney.
“I think there are a lot of similarities in terms of trying to make sure that companies and individuals don’t find themselves at the crosshairs of government enforcement,” Cunha said of his transition from prosecutor to defense attorney.
Cunha confirmed the job at the law firm was in the works before he was directed to resign as US attorney for Rhode Island on Feb. 17. He was expecting to lose his job, as is customary when a new president takes office, and had already submitted a letter of resignation that would have taken effect days later.
“All of the remaining Biden-appointed US attorneys were informed by the White House that their service had come to a close,” Cunha said.
Cunha said he chose Nixon Peabody because a number of colleagues he worked with at the DOJ are now there, including Brian Kelly, a former Massachusetts federal prosecutor who tried the Whitey Bulger case.
As US attorney, Cunha sued CVS for allegedly contributing to the opioid crisis, accused R.I. leaders of warehousing children in state care at a psychiatric hospital, and prosecuted criminals who brought illegal guns into the community.
“You always wish you had time for more, but I’m proud not just of what the office has done, but where the office is and the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to bring on board some really terrific members of the staff,” Cunha said in a January interview with the Globe.
Trump has not yet named a replacement for Cunha. Sara Bloom, who was Cunha’s first assistant, is acting US attorney in the interim.
“Sara is a tremendously capable and talented career DOJ attorney,” Cunha said. “She’s eminently capable of running the office at the highest possible standard.”
Cunha declined to say if he’s considering running for R.I. attorney general next year, an idea that has been repeatedly floated by the current Attorney General Peter Neronha, a former US attorney himself, who is term-limited.
“My focus right now is on navigating this transition to private practice,” Cunha said. “As for the future, we’ll see what happens.”
Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island State Police are investigating a crash that happened on I-295 North in Cumberland Tuesday night.
The crash happened in the right lane near Exit 22 just before 9 p.m.
It’s unclear exactly what caused the crash or if anyone was injured.
12 News has reached out to Rhode Island State Police for more information but has not heard back.
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Scandals shake up Capitol Hill ahead of midterm elections
Congressional reporter Zachary Schermele dives into the latest scandals on Capitol Hill and how they’re shaking up politics ahead of midterms.
Rhode Island’s Democrat and Republican primary elections will officially be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 this year, instead of the usual Tuesday election day.
Lawmakers passed the bill at the urging of state and local officials, who were concerned that an election day falling the day after Labor Day would not give them enough time to set up polls for the arrival of voters.
Gov. Dan McKee signed the bill on April 20, officially moving the primary day for 2026.
Which races will be on the ballot? The Republican and Democrat nominees for a swath of local offices – most notably governor but also lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Why was RI’s primary day moved?
At a hearing on the bill earlier this year, Randy Rossi, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns explained the “significant logistical and financial challenges” municipalities otherwise would have faced having an election the day after Labor Day.
“Beyond cost, municipalities face serious logistical challenges accessing and setting up more than 430 polling locations on a major federal holiday, a process that often requires many hours and access to facilities that are typically closed and unstaffed on Labor Day,” he said.
“Compounding these challenges, many municipalities conduct early voting in city or town halls that must also serve as primary day polling locations,” Rossi noted.
Without changes to current law, he said, “municipalities would be required to conduct early voting and primary day polling simultaneously, often in the same limited space and with the same poll workers, requiring additional staffing and facilities.”
By the time this legislative hearing took place in January, other states facing similar issues, including Massachusetts, had already adjusted their primary dates, “and Rhode Island itself has demonstrated that alternative scheduling can be successful, as occurred during the statewide Wednesday primary in 2018,” Rossi said.
EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) — If you’re looking to satisfy you’re sweet tooth, look no further than Division Street.
Nothing Bundt Cakes opened its first Rhode Island bakery in East Greenwich earlier this month. The new bakery is situated within East Greenwich Square, which is also home to the Ocean State’s first Crumbl.
The bakery is known for its handcrafted specialty Bundt cakes, as well as smaller “Bundtlets,” and bite-sized “Bundtinis,” that come in a variety of flavors.
“There’s a strong sense of local pride, creativity, and community here that aligns perfectly with our values,” said Jake Williams, who owns the East Greenwich bakery. “We were drawn to the area’s vibrant small business culture and the opportunity to contribute something special.”
Nothing Bundt Cakes is also expected to open another bakery at Chapel View in Cranston later this year.
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