Corruption is alive and nicely in Massachusetts Democratic politics.
For the second time in the previous couple of months, the feds have nabbed an elected Democrat and charged them with stealing to fund their private and political coffers.
It’s refreshing to see the newly appointed U.S. Lawyer Leah Foley making public corruption a precedence once more.
What’s it in regards to the Massachusetts political tradition that individuals really feel they will openly break the regulation and get away with it?
However now they aren’t getting away with it.
Democratic state Rep. Chris Flanagan of Dennis is the newest goal of the feds, and he’s fairly the prize.
The 37-year-old, two-term lawmaker was charged with stealing over $36,000 from his commerce affiliation, funneling a few of that into his marketing campaign account and a few to pay for menswear, an air conditioner and “private psychic companies,” in keeping with the federal indictment.
Flanagan truly went as far as to create an alias named “Jeanne Louise” who he claimed made a mailer for a bunch referred to as “Conservatives for Flanagan,” state marketing campaign finance officers stated.
There was no such group.
What a instrument. Flanagan one way or the other obtained reelected by the high-quality voters of Cape Cod final yr with 56% of the vote, displaying how ineffectual the state Republican Celebration is. And his district often votes Republican.
The indictment is simply one more reason individuals don’t belief the federal government.
It comes on the heels of a plea deal reached by the feds and Metropolis Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, accused of stealing $7,000 from taxpayers in a scheme that happened in a Metropolis Corridor lavatory. Anderson will get not less than a yr in jail and has to resign, however she continues to be clinging to her $120,000-a-year job.
Gov. Maura Healey and Republicans referred to as on Flanagan to resign too, however don’t maintain your breath. He’s not going to surrender his $100,000 wage that simply. Notably, Home Speaker Ron Mariano didn’t demand Flanagan resign. Lawmakers stick collectively.
Mariano stated the Home would “take the suitable steps if mandatory to make sure accountability.”
If mandatory? What else do it’s essential to know earlier than you resolve to kick Flanagan out of workplace, Mr. Speaker?
The Flanagan arrest begs the query: Is Massachusetts politics attracting the flawed kind of individuals? Or is the system corrupt?
Stealing and corruption and fraud now appear to be a part of the political tradition right here.
Fernandes Anderson doesn’t even seem embarrassed by the kickback scheme the feds uncovered, smiling and waving for cameras in Metropolis Corridor on Wednesday and selecting which Democrat-friendly media outlet she provides interviews to.
Flanagan left courtroom on Friday in a striped button shirt as he strolled by the cameras and refused to speak.
However get this. His lawyer, already attempting to generate sympathy for Flanagan, stated he was recovering from coronary heart surgical procedure.
“He’s simply trying ahead to getting dwelling and getting some relaxation,” legal professional Greg Henning stated.
Don’t fear. In some way Flanagan goes to be getting quite a lot of relaxation within the close to future.
