Republican state lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the abrupt retirement of one of Gov. Ned Lamont’s top advisors.

Office of Health Strategy Commissioner Deidre Gifford’s announcement came just after the Connecticut Mirror published emails detailing her possible involvement in canceling a Medicaid fraud investigation.

On Friday, Lamont insisted that he did not ask Gifford to step down – and that she did nothing wrong.

Gifford is one of Lamont’s closest advisors.

She was the public face of Connecticut’s COVID response, serving as commissioner of public health and social services. She took over OHS at the start of Lamont’s second term in 2023.

But Thursday, Lamont announced that Gifford will retire – just one hour after the Mirror story was posted.

“No, she was definitely not asked to leave,” he said on Friday. “She got a place in Rhode Island well over a year ago, she told me. She approached me just a few weeks ago saying she was probably ready to make a move right now.”

The Connecticut Mirror said reporters first contacted Gifford one month ago, on April 10.

The questions involve a Medicaid fraud investigation in 2020.

DSS dropped an audit that could have cost a Bristol eye doctor her medical practice. Federal prosecutors allege that Lamont’s then-budget deputy, Kosta Diamantis, accepted $95,000 in bribes to pressure the agency to drop the case.

Instead of facing penalties, in a highly unusual move, DSS allowed Dr. Helen Zervas to pay the state back.

“You put a value on what it was worth to you to save it all,” Diamantis texted Zervas, according to the indictment.

Zervas pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid in March. She will be sentenced after Diamantis’ trial.

Emails obtained by the Connecticut Mirror suggest that Gifford directly intervened in the case.

On May 5, 2020, the state’s Medicaid audit director, John McCormick, emailed DSS’ deputy commissioner, “The Commissioner [Gifford] called me about this provider last week. The provider has a friend in OPM."

OPM is the state budget office.

Days earlier, the commissioner emailed McCormick, "I do not want to intervene in this process."

In response, the audit chief warned Gifford that the settlement arrangement was “unusual.”

Lamont defended Gifford on Friday.

“What I saw was a little different,” he said. “I saw Deidre Gifford saying, '’Handle this. Make sure you do it right. Tell me if there’s anything unusual about it.’”

But Republicans aren’t convinced. Connecticut House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford) wants lawmakers to launch their own investigation.

“We have the Government Oversight Committee that has subpoena power. Our Judiciary Committee, or [Government Administration and Elections] Committee – they all have subpoena power,” he said. “I think the timing of all of this has been sort of suspect. Back when she left DSS and was transferred to OHS, that transfer came as a surprise to many of us.”

Gifford has not commented on the published emails, but issued a statement in her retirement announcement.

“Since June of 2019 it has been my privilege to work alongside Gov. Lamont, his team, and an amazing group of commissioners to serve the people of Connecticut,” she said. “As I move on to this next chapter, it is with immense gratitude to the staffs at DSS, DPH, and OHS, who have stood with me, taught me, and shown me by their examples the meaning of public service.”

Gifford does not face any criminal charges, but Diamantis’ attorney said he plans to call her as a witness at his trial.

In a separate case, Diamantis is accused of bid-rigging school construction projects.