Larson Announces Guest for State of the Union Address

Washington – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced he will bring Glastonbury resident James Tillman as his guest for President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address. Mr. Tillman spent 18 years in prison after a wrongful conviction until DNA testing organized by the Connecticut Innocence Project exonerated him in 2006. In 2015, he graduated from Goodwin College with an associate degree in Human Services.

“It is an honor to share this historic moment with James Tillman,” said Larson. “He has been an inspiration and mentor to many in our community—including me. His story led me to introduce the Wrongful Convictions Tax Relief Act with Rep. Sam Johnson to ensure any compensation received from a wrongful conviction is not taxed by the federal government.”

Following his exoneration and release, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to award Mr. Tillman $5 million in compensation. The Wrongful Convictions Tax Relief Act was passed as part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act on December 17, 2015. In addition to making future compensation tax free, it allows those previously exonerated to file for a return of any taxes paid on their awards if claimed one year after the Act’s passage.

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