Mr. Lippe had been hired by the counsel to the legislative impeachment panel.

Individual citizens, even a Congressional impeachment panel, may decide these charges are old or unimportant, but as matters of law, they have standing.

Nonetheless, they note, examples of impropriety before 1999 are fair game for the impeachment panel.

But the legislators do not expect any conflicts with the federal investigation, said John Wayne Fox, the Democratic co-chairman of the 10-member impeachment panel.

Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, a Democrat from East Haven who served on the impeachment panel, said the school's problems predated the current staff.

He was on the impeachment panel that held Governor Rowland's feet to the fire a year ago.

Mr. Twardy said he and his client would have no comment beyond saying that they are cooperating with federal prosecutors and the impeachment panel.

Whether Tomasso Brothers had an unfair advantage is part of the inquiry into the Rowland administration by the impeachment panel and federal investigators.

Mr. Rowland resigned from office on July 1 after it became apparent that he would have to testify or plead the Fifth Amendment before the impeachment panel.

"These are very serious charges," said State Representative Jim Skelly, who heads the impeachment panel.