A Probation official testified in federal court on Tuesday that he gave two, $100 cash contributions to his superiors at the agency to pass on to Rep. Thomas Petrolati of […]
Patronage on Trial
Coverage of the federal racketeering trial of former Probation Commissioner John O’Brien.
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo not told he will testify on Probation
House Speaker Robert DeLeo said on Monday said he has received no formal indication that he will be called as a witness in the trial of former Probation commissioner John […]
Posted inPolitics
Young reels in lawyers in probation case
The third day of the federal racketeering trial of former Probation Department boss John O’Brien opened with US District Court Judge William Young turning aside a bid by O’Brien’s lawyers […]
Posted inPolitics
Whose ox is being gored?
Former commissioner John J. O’Brien and two top deputies, Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke III, may the ones being called to answer in federal court for a rigged hiring scheme […]
Posted inPolitics
Reading between the lines
Opening statements in the long-awaited corruption trial of former state Probation commissioner John J. O’Brien were eye-opening not only for what the lawyers said but for what they didn’t say. […]
Posted inPolitics
Judge rules patronage not a crime
The federal judge in the trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and top aides set a high bar on Monday for prosecutors, saying he will instruct jurors at the […]
Posted inPolitics
Probation hiring files of Murray disclosed
As part of its racketeering and bribery case against former Probation commissioner John O’Brien, the US Attorney’s office is seeking to enter into evidence files detailing how Senate President Therese […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
The payoff from patronage
Both sides in the upcoming racketeering trial of top former Probation Department officials generally agree that agency jobs were steered to those with political connections on Beacon Hill. One side […]
Posted inPolitics
O’Brien judge bows out
The federal judge in the corruption trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien recused himself Thursday but not before excoriating defense attorneys for bringing the motion as retaliation for ruling […]
Posted inPolitics
Possible Probation witness lists filed
Defense Witness List Prosecution Witness List The prosecution and defense teams in the federal corruption trial of former Probation commissioner John J. O’Brien on Tuesday filed lists of people they […]
Posted inPolitics
Lawmakers get immunity
Lawyers for former Probation commissioner John O’Brien revealed that a number of state legislators have been granted immunity by federal prosecutors in exchange for their testimony in the one-time powerful […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo’s probation problem
Laughter and applause rained down on the House chamber on Wednesday. Beacon Hill lawmakers sent one of their own off in style, welcomed a new member to their ranks, and […]
