"The suggestion that we were holding it back is absolutely inaccurate and false," Rowland said. "I'm just telling you, we've turned over everything that we have, that they've requested."

But Rowland's legal counsel, Ross Garber, contradicted his client, saying Tuesday that the governor's staff is still "working diligently to gather, review and produce documents for the committee.''

Rowland also said that his office didn't turn over a letter from a state contractor asking for the governor's help in getting a state job because it no longer has that document.

The contractor, Kurt Claywell, has said he gave Rowland more than $8,000 in Cuban cigars and expensive champagne and has provided the committee with a copy of a 1998 letter asking for the governor's assistance in getting a subcontract on the state's juvenile justice facility project.

"You're assuming we still have that in our possession," Rowland said of the Claywell letter. "We've turned over everything that we have. That's all I can tell you."

When asked if he was concerned that someone in his office may have destroyed or taken that and other documents being sought by the committee, Rowland replied: "I have no clue."

The governor's angry comments came in response to a letter from the bipartisan committee that asked why Rowland and his lawyers haven't turned over documents involving Claywell. Several of those documents, including a copy of the letter and handwritten thank you notes from Rowland were given to the panel by state and federal law enforcement authorities.

Claywell has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of tax fraud and is now cooperating with a federal grand jury of corruption within Rowland's administration. Claywell has reportedly told investigators that Peter N. Ellef, Rowland's former co-chief of staff, asked him to destroy his copy of the letter asking for the governor's help.

Rowland admitted on Dec. 12, 2003, that he accepted thousands of dollars in gifts from state contractors, political appointees and friends-but never mentioned any gifts from Claywell. A week later, Rowland insisted to reporters that he couldn't recall accepting any other gifts from contractors. "None that I know of," Rowland said.

Tuesday, the governor said that he'd forgotten about the expensive cigars and champagne that Claywell says he gave to Rowland in the late 1990s.

The governor's angry response came at the same time as word that the legislature's impeachment committee has had its office and those of its 10 legislative members swept for electronic bugs as a precaution.

No electronic surveillance devices were found during that sweep and the committee's Republican chairman, state Rep. Arthur J. O'Neill of Southbury, said the move was merely precautionary. He said various individuals experienced with grand jury and other investigative procedures suggested the electronic sweeps.

O'Neill said he is puzzled by Rowland's claim that his office has already turned over all the information requested by the committee. "That's not true," said O'Neill. "I don't understand what he's talking about."

The governor's office has provided the committee with more than 52,000 pages of documents in response to a series of subpoenas asking for information dating back to Rowland's first days in office in 1995.

Rowland alternated Tuesday between slamming the committee and insisting he will answer only the committee's questions.

"They should be having hearings, they should be having depositions," Rowland said of the special committee of inquiry. "They shouldn't be just handing this stuff out to the press on a daily basis and making false accusations or accusations that aren't backed up with facts."

But Rowland added, "But even through that, I'm still hoping to get an opportunity to talk about all the issues and answer the questions of the panel."

Gregory B. Hladky can be reached at ghladky@nhregister.com, or (860) 524-0719.