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10/23/2025
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Former U.S. Attorney Cunha to assist joint Oversight Public Hearing Being Planned for November 13
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Public Hearing Being Planned for November 13
STATE HOUSE — Prompted by the recent release of the forensic audit and other new public details about the Washington Bridge, Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie J. Lawson announced today that a joint hearing of the House and Senate oversight committees is being planned for the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 13, in Room 35 on the basement floor of the State House.
Speaker Shekarchi and President Lawson also announced that the General Assembly has retained former U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha to assist the committees in conducting this hearing. Cunha, now in private practice, was the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from 2021 to 2025.
“A career public servant, Attorney Cunha’s vast experience will enhance the conduct of a fair and robust inquiry by our oversight committees without unnecessary impact on the state’s ongoing lawsuit related to the Washington Bridge,” said Speaker Shekarchi and President Lawson. “He has consistently demonstrated impartiality, integrity and a high degree of skill across the legal landscape while serving as U.S. Attorney.”
Attorney General Peter Neronha, also a former U.S. Attorney, has publicly stated that Rhode Island Department of Transportation employees may respond to questions from the joint committees despite the state’s lawsuit against former contractors. As previously noted, the hearing is expected to be conducted after an administration of oath to the witnesses.
“The people of Rhode Island deserve transparency and accountability, and I support Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Lawson in their mission here,” Attorney General Neronha said earlier this month. “Though my office seeks to hold accountable several contractor companies for what we allege was negligent behavior, that doesn’t mean those in state leadership charged with maintaining our roads and bridges get a free pass. We must know the full truth, and these hearings can absolutely provide helpful insight.”
The meeting will be televised live by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox channel 61, on i3Broadband channel 15 and on Verizon channel 34. It will be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.
For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 447-2655
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