Lelling plugs fed role on corruption probes
By 
US Attorney Andrew Lelling stood on a podium at Moakley Courthouse on Tuesday announcing federal charges against Democratic State Rep. David Nangle for misusing campaign funds.
But for a few minutes, it seemed like the Republican Lelling – who the conservative New Boston Post speculated could be a potential GOP candidate for governor – had another target in mind: Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat widely speculated to be pondering her own gubernatorial run. Without being asked, Lelling seemed intent on answering the question of why he, rather than Healey, was prosecuting the state lawmaker.
Lelling said his office will continue to aggressively pursue public corruption, one reason being: “If we don’t do it, it might not get done.” He added: “We have the resources to pursue these cases and fewer or no ties to state and local government.”
During a question and answer session, Lelling expanded on his remarks. He reiterated that his office has more resources – more prosecutors and agents – to pursue public corruption cases. And, he added, “On some level it’s less awkward for us to do it.”
The Boston Globe editorial board picked up on the theme Wednesday, questioning whether Nangle’s case points to the failure of state officials to prioritize rooting out corruption. “This latest federal corruption charge against a state politician points to the obvious fact that somehow state and local laws and/or the officials who enforce them are not adequate to ferret out misconduct by those entrusted to do the public’s business,” the Globe wrote.
Healey disagrees. “Going after public corruption continues to be an important mission of this office,” a Healey spokeswoman told CommonWealth. “AG Healey has investigated and prosecuted dozens of cases of fraud and corruption by public officials and will continue to do so.”
The Nangle case was referred to the FBI directly by another agency in 2017 (the FBI would not say which agency). It was apparently not referred to Healey’s office. It involved federal issues including lying on federal tax forms and bank applications, as well as state level campaign finance issues.
The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance did investigate Nangle in 2008. It determined he was not complying with disclosure and reporting requirements, put his campaign committee on an enhanced reporting schedule through 2010, charged the committee $1,000, and required Nangle and his staff to undergo training.
While the Globe editorial writes that Lelling has taken the lead in prosecuting allegedly corrupt municipal officials in Boston and Fall River and state police implicated in an overtime abuse scandal, Healey’s office notes that she also prosecuted several state police officials for overtime abuse. Healey’s office prosecuted Bryon Hefner, the husband of a former Senate president, for sexual assault. She has prosecuted numerous other state and municipal employees, such as an MBTA employee who stole from fareboxes and UMass Amherst employees accused of accepting kickbacks.
The most “awkwardness” for now may be between the two senior law enforcement officials.
SHIRA SCHOENBERG
BEACON HILL
Gov. Charlie Baker’s Transportation Climate Initiative is facing lots of blowback — from fellow Republicans. (Boston Globe)
The Senate will consider a bill allowing the use of automated cameras to capture traffic violations. (State House News Service)
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
The Springfield City Council will consider banning the use of facial recognition technology. (MassLive)
Methuen city councilors say the mayor is blocking their access to city workers with new communications policy. (Eagle-Tribune)
One woman in a Brockton affordable housing complex has made it her mission to improve other residents’ lives as president of a tenant association. Now she’s being honored for her work. (The Enterprise)
A Marblehead youth hockey coach was suspended while facing sexual assault charges. (AP)
Worcester Regional Transit Authority buses won’t go fare-free this year. (Telegram & Gazette)
WASHINGTON/NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
A senior US intelligence official, in a briefing to House members, said Russia wants to see President Trump reelected, a disclosure that angered Trump who fears it will be used by Democrats against him. (New York Times)
Massachusetts is among several states increasing funding for Planned Parenthood after it lost federal funding (AP)
ELECTIONS
Michael Bloomberg bombed in Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate, but was it fatal to his candidacy? (Boston Globe)
Ludlow School Committee member Jake Oliveira is running for the state rep seat held by retiring Rep. Thomas Petrolati. (MassLive)
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
Fall River marijuana company Cannatech Medicinals is taking steps to open—four years after getting local approval. (Herald News)
EDUCATION
State education commissioner Jeff Riley is recommending that City on a Hill charter school in Boston be put on probation. (Boston Globe)
Black students make up a far smaller share of AP test-takers at Cambridge RIndge & Latin School than the overall student population. (Boston Globe)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will speak at the Smith College commencement. (MassLive)
HEALTH/HEALTH CARE
Chip Ford of Citizens of Limited Taxation draws on the end-of-life experience of his late partner Barbara Anderson to argue in favor of letting a physician help a terminally ill patient end their life. (Salem News)
ARTS/CULTURE
MassArt opens a new contemporary art museum, and admission is free. (WBUR)
As the Cape Playhouse in Dennis is readied for its 94th summer, its top business leadership is being reshuffled — for the seventh time in six years. Nora Carey, who was hired as development director in May, is the theater’s new executive director. (Cape Cod Times)
New Bedford Public Library’s new art curator Alexandra Copeland creates a self-guided art tour brochure. (Standard-Times)
TRANSPORTATION
A Berkshire Eagle editorial opposes Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to hike ride-share fees to $1 per ride and send 70 percent of the additional revenue to the “money pit” known as the MBTA. The editorial also says tinkering with a few fees won’t cut it in addressing the state’s transportation challenges.
A decade of parking tickets in Quincy Center has led to 165,575 violations and millions of dollars for the city. (Patriot Ledger)
The state’s hands-free driving law takes effect Sunday: Here’s what you need to know. (CommonWealth)
A Globe editorial says East-West commuter rail from Boston to Springfield and beyond should be part of the state’s transportation planning, despite state officials’ efforts to scare off the conversation with low-balling the benefits and inflating costs.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Members of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility say an op-ed on hunger and clean energy by Marcy Reed of National Grid was misleading and disingenuous. If you missed Reed’s op-ed, click here. (CommonWealth)
State and federal environmental officials listen to more community concerns about the proposed GE cleanup plan for the Housatonic River at a meeting in Great Barrington. (Berkshire Eagle)
IMMIGRATION
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants says ICE is continuing to deport immigrant criminal suspects in the middle of their cases. (MassLive) ICE says it arrested two men while their criminal cases were pending in a crackdown on sanctuary city policies (AP).
Immigrants are panicking about a new Trump administration rule that limits family-based immigration from several countries. (AP)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/COURTS
Sixteen prisoners at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center are charged in the attack on guards last month. For some, the charges include kidnapping. (CommonWealth) Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa recounts a visit to Souza where she heard “horrendous accounts” from prisoners concerning their treatment. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Attorney General Maura Healey and the Cannabis Control Commission agree there should be new civil — not criminal — penalties for illicit marijuana sales. (State House News Service)
The family of Justina Pelletier lost their lawsuit against Boston Children’s Hospital over its handling of her care there in 2013. (Boston Globe)
The CEO of a Medford-based biotech company was sentenced for defrauding investors after claiming a new painkiller could replace opioids. (AP)
Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins is dismissing charges of assaulting police officers filed against some of those who were protesting a Straight Pride parade in Boston last year. (Boston Herald)
The Boston Globe will make its endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary on Wednesday, and the paper is hyping that news complete with word that there will be video showing the editorial board deliberations — just as the New York Times recently did.