Draft:List of Massachusetts political scandals

This is a list of political scandals which occurred in the U.S. State of Massachusetts. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included. Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal. Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence. Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included. Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings. The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later. Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation. Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Massachusetts

• Rachael Rollins (D) United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, was accused by an internal watchdog investigation of trying to influence a Suffolk County District Attorney race by sharing sensitive DOJ information about the candidates. She was also accused of disclosing other non public DOJ information with the press. When confronted, she resigned her position. (2023)

• David M. Nangle (D) State Representative from Lowell in the 13TH District, was charged with using campaign funds for personal use, such as buying a home, paying personal debts and gambling. He pled guilty to fraud and filing false documents. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release. (2020)

• Stan Rosenberg (D) State Senator and President of the Massachusetts Senate from Amherst and openly gay politician, was accused of failing to protect the senate from his estranged husband, Bryon Hefner, who was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting several men who had dealings with the legislature. Rosenberg stepped down as Senate President and later resigned his seat. (2018)

• Brian A. Joyce (D) State Senator from Milton, was accused of corruption, racketeering and fraud. After an auto accident, he died in his sleep from a drug overdose and all charges were dismissed. (2017)

• John George Jr. (D) State Representative from Bristol, was accused of defrauding the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority of hundreds of thousands of dollars through his firm, the Union Street Bus Company. He was found guilty and sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. Though he claimed he had no money for restitution, more than $2.5 million in cash and jewelry was found in his safety deposit boxes. (2015)

• Carlos Henriquez (D) State Representative from the Suffolk District, was arrested in a domestic violence case, was found guilty of two counts of assault and battery and sentenced to six months in jail with two years on probation. He was also expelled from the State House. (2014)

• Enrico ‘Jack’ Villamaino (R) Candidate for State Representative, and a Selectman from East Longmeadow, was accused of felony voter fraud during his campaign. He admitted to changing the party affiliations on 280 absentee ballots from Democrat to un-enrolled. He lost anyway. He pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail (serving four months) with one year's probation. (2012)

• Stephen Stat Smith (D) State Representative from Everett in District 28, pled guilty to casting invalid absentee ballots for other people. He was found guilty and sentenced to four months in jail. (2010)

• J. James Marzilli, Jr. (D) State Senator from the 4th Middlesex District, was accused by several women of approaching them, making lewd comments, running from police and then giving false information. Citing bipolar disorder, he resigned his seat. In court, he was found guilty and sentenced to three months in jail. (2008)

• Anthony D. Galluccio (D) State Senator of Cambridge, pled guilty to his third drunk driving charge and was sentenced to six months home confinement. Within 72 hours of beginning his house arrest, the court-ordered breath-alcohol testing device detected alcohol on his breath. He was arrested again and given the maximum sentence of one year in prison. (2009)

• Diane Wilkerson (D) State Senator from Boston, was video-taped by the FBI stuffing bribe money into her bra. She pled guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. (2010)

See also

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
• List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes

References

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Categories:

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• Political scandals in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts-related lists