Legislator describes threat as unnerving

Says colleague was upset by prior comments

As state Representative Jennifer M. Callahan listened to a budget debate on the House floor on Thursday, a fellow Democrat approached her and told her he was upset about comments she had previously made about his role in the possible succession of Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi.

Then, she said, he threatened her, saying: "I want you to know that I'm not only aware of what was said, but I've been in this building a long time and I know a lot of people, and that if I want to I could make your life really difficult. I could really hurt you if I wanted to."

Neither Callahan, a Sutton Democrat, nor other lawmakers would publicly identify the representative who allegedly made the threats.

After a week of debate on a $28 billion budget, Callahan abruptly halted House proceedings on Friday night when she took the floor and told colleagues the other lawmaker "personally threaten[ed] me." DiMasi gaveled the session into a recess as she spoke.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Callahan said the she thought the lawmaker was trying to "silence" her.

"The words used were very unnerving, made me uncomfortable, and I couldn't sleep that night," she said. "I'm not going to let someone make very serious words to me and threaten to hold my legislation hostage, no matter what the motive. I'm just not going to take that - not in the House of Representatives, an institution where we're supposed to be treated with respect. I find that particular kind of behavior extremely insulting."

Political maneuvering and veiled power threats are common on Beacon Hill, but they rarely surface publicly.

Callahan's allegations come after lawmakers have begun lining up with possible successors to DiMasi since the Globe published stories about whether the speaker influenced legislation that benefited his friends.

Lawmakers have been maneuvering to support either House Ways and Means Chairman Robert A. DeLeo or majority leader John H. Rogers as potential successors to DiMasi.

Key backers for DeLeo include Rep resentative Charles A. Murphy, a Democrat from Burlington, and James E. Vallee, a Democrat from Franklin who is vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Those behind Rogers include Representatives Stephen R. Canessa and John F. Quinn, both Democrats from New Bedford.

Victoria Bonney, a spokeswoman for DiMasi, declined to comment on the alleged threats.

"We're taking it very seriously, but we're not commenting," she said. "I think it speaks for itself. We're looking into it."

Jim Eisenberg, a spokesman for DeLeo, said the chairman played no role in the alleged threats.

"If Chairman DeLeo is interested in becoming speaker, why would he ever condone such tactics?" Eisenberg said. "Any suggestion that Chairman DeLeo would have condoned such tactics doesn't make any sense. He is certainly interested in becoming speaker, but it doesn't quite add up."

Assistant Majority Leader Lida E. Harkins, who has spoken to Callahan about the allegations, also declined to identify the lawmaker. She said she did not know what the consequences would be if the allegations are true.

"I think it's unfortunate, but I think it's isolated, and it will be dealt with," Harkins said. "What the course of it will be, I don't know. I think all the facts have to be determined before any decisions are made."

Representative Eugene L. O'Flaherty, who has also discussed the allegations with Callahan, declined to comment as well. "I'm sure as this matter takes its course, it will be dealt with by the speaker's office," he said. "I think two people may have different versions."

Senator Edward Augustus, a Worcester Democrat whose district abuts Callahan's, was "shocked" when he heard news of the alleged threats. "It was very unusual to hear somebody get up in the middle of the debate and say something like that," Augustus said. "It had to be something that bothered her tremendously."

He said it would be an odd tactic, because lawmakers are well aware that their decisions carry consequences.

"If you push somebody's back against the wall, it usually gets the opposite reaction," he said. "People want to be treated and dealt with in a professional way."

Andrea Estes, Matt Viser, Michael Levenson, and Maria Sacchetti of the Globe staff contributed to this story. David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.