A once-powerful state senator from Bridgeport went on trial Tuesday for campaign finance fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege that Democrat Dennis Bradley used “lies and half-truths” to “trick” the state into awarding him $84,000 in public campaign funds.

But outside the federal courthouse in New Haven, Bradley insisted that he is an “innocent person.” His attorney called the case “bullsh*t.”

Bradley faces six counts of conspiracy and wire fraud.

The case centers around a party at the old Dolphin’s Cove Restaurant in Bridgeport. Prosecutors claim it was a campaign fundraiser for Bradley's 2018 state Senate run – paid for with his own money – which would make him ineligible for matching funds from the state’s Citizens Election Program.

They also allege that Bradley directed his staff to falsify dates on campaign finance reports to illegally receive matching funds.

But Bradley insists it was simply a “Thank You” party for his law firm.

“This whole case is bullsh*t and it’s been bullsh*t from the beginning,” said Darnell Crosland, Bradley's attorney. “In the business that we’re in, being lawyers, the only thing we need is clients. And what you do to get clients is that you do marketing – whether it’s billboards, whether it’s a Christmas party.”

The government paints a very different picture. And they showed jurors a 28-minute video of the event to prove it.

“Mr. Bradley planned the event with his campaign (not law firm) staff, paid for the event with personal (not law firm) funds, publicized the event in local media as a campaign announcement, invited numerous Bridgeport politicians, and made a speech in which he announced his candidacy for Senate,” the government wrote in a court filing.

Joanna Haddad, an attorney who worked for Bradley’s law firm at the time, served as emcee. In the video, she announces, “We have Tina here passing donation forms.”

Haddad testified that Tina Manus, a campaign volunteer, was collecting donations for Bradley’s campaign. Manus reached a plea deal with prosecutors and is expected to testify against Bradley.

Former campaign treasurer Jessica Martinez, who pleaded guilty last year, is also expected to testify. “He should have been more honest with me. There were things that I was unaware of,” Martinez told News 12 Connecticut in July 2025. “There were things I was left in the dark from, and it wasn’t until I was indicted where I got details and evidence that I understood Dennis Bradley’s role in all of it.”

Bradley’s legal team brushed aside her claims.

“When a person is drowning, they grab whoever’s next to them to bring them down,” Crossland said. “[Martinez] knew that she wasn’t supposed to be collecting any moneys. She could bring forms to give the people for the future, but she knew she wasn't supposed to collect any money.”

Bradley did not want jurors to see the Dolphin Cover video.

The case was delayed for years as he fought to keep it out of the trial. In 2024, a federal appeals court ruled that it could be included.

Besides the video, prosecutors plan to show jurors dozens of texts between Bradley and campaign workers.

According to an arrest warrant, in one exchange about the event, a campaign consultant wrote, “Wouldn’t that be illegal?” Bradley responded, “No, it's a BDK Law Group party” – but then added, “I’m announcing that night.”

In another exchange, Bradley tells a campaign volunteer to bring donation forms and “People give me money, I’m taking it.” Will Bradley take the stand? He said that’s up to his defense team.

“I stand by the fact that I am an innocent person, that these charges are frivolous and false,” he told reporters outside court.