Wilkerson terminates campaign, resists calls to resign

I really do think what she did was wrong, she should of realized that they were watching her for what she did long time ago. I think that she should RESIGN too before they get a chance to vote her out and she ends up losing everything.
Just to let you know DIANNE you really made us BLACK people look bad and can not be trusted in office doing what you did, so you deserve everything coming to you.

"A decision to leave this district without representation, even for 60 days, is one that cannot and should not be made in a matter of hours," she said. "Rest assured I am committed to do what is in the best interest of the residents of this district."
Corupt representation is "in the best interest of the residents of the district"? Enough already, just leave & take anyone else involved down with you too please.

So typical. If this were a man or a Republican, people would be truly outraged, but instead, she's a victim. She has victimized our state, throw the book at her, throw her in jail, and throw away the key. This is why our state is so messed up.

Honda Sonata? hahahahahaha there's kind of a huge difference between a Honda and a Hyundai.

I am ashamed to be an African American. Ms. Wilkerson, don't you realize what you are doing to us as a group? This is a setback to our progress-if there was ever any real progress made by you. And Chuck Turner and any one backing you-your days in office are numbered.

Hyundai Sonata.....no such thing as a Honda Sonata.

I think she is like OJ. Everyone knows they are guilty but they have themselves convinced otherwise. There is a serious mental health issue at play here.

While it's hard to think of an innocent explanation to go with the photos, nonetheless, in the interests of fairness and basic justice, both to her and to other office-holders in the future, who may be in more ambiguous settings that eventually turn out to be innocent, Senator Wilkerson should not be forced out before she has her day in court. As it stands, the voters of her district have already decided that we prefer Sonia Chang-Diaz. Stripping her of chairpersonship and the like makes sense, but in terms of expulsion, like everyone else, Diane Wilkerson is entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Does anybody find it concerning that she must consult with a half-dozen clergy members to make a decision, after she is caught on tape accepting bribes, and after all her colleagues in the senate want her out? Is it just arrogance?

Daisy, I disagree with your statement that Wilkerson's transgressions make all black people look bad. It surely does not. There are good and bad black and white (and all other colors) legislators out there. What her transgressions do, however, is make many more people cynical of our political system. And that's unfortunate.

hey Phillips & Ryan, honda,hyundai it's all the same

She is not interested in her constituents best interest, she is only thinking of herself and how she can transfer blame. SHe should resign and anyone who stands behind her sould be ashamed. She is a crook!

The reason she's saying see won't seek re-election is so she can try to hold on to her pension.

It is my belief that not only is she embarrassing herself she is totally humiliating her family and friends who have to be speechless - I am!
Its time to save what little face there is left, I am a true believer that both sides need to be heard before I form an opinion, but she's not giving an explanation and this is not the first time. (once is a mistake twice is a habit) so I'm left saying a picture is worth a thousand words and they have many pictures.
You are giving woman not black woman but all woman a bad name.
I'm so disappointed.

I wonder what the difference is financially if she leaves office in January vs. today. My bet is that waiting til January increases her pension. One last kiss from the Commonwealth?

Reality sinks in

blue eyedgirl, wake up! she broke the law. she is no victim. the victim is the people in her district. it has nothing to do with man or women or political party.

She's probably been selling herself, too....just hasn't been caught, yet. Not that I would want any of that....oh, the image.....

Why would the actions of ONE person reflect upon your whole race?

It's good that this lady finally realizedt that she is not untouchable. All of her past transgressions have been overlooked and she thought her constituancy was so gullable that they would look the other way on this issue as well. She was wrong. The race card is not going to save you now as you have shamed everyone that looked to you as their voice and representative. What a completed toad this lady is. At least you provided good example to Sonjia about how not to act.

How much did she pocket to end her campaign? 5 g's? 10?

LEAVE NOW. For once make the right decision and let us all move on. I am embarassed for you. What makes this even worse is your inability to see that the Senate threw you a bone by allowing you to resign on your own accord. Honestly who is advising you? You remind me of a conman who thinks everyone else around them is dumb. Don't you see that your decisions affect those around you and reflect poorly on the people in your district who fought hard to vote you into that seat in the first place. At least you are consistant b/c your lack of judgement now is just a reflection of the poor decisions you have made throughout your entire life (campaign finance issues, refusal to not pay condo fees, foreclosure lawsuits, bribery..who holds a public office position and doesn't pay their taxes? etc., etc) . GO HOME!

Of the photos shows her stuffing $1,000 under her bra. This is a state senator? She brings shame to a lot of people including herself and her family. She's been reduced to nothing but a 2 bit thief. The more she fights this the more likely she will be run out of town.

What was it that brought Senator Wilkerson down? Hubris...and the refusal to understand that there are spiritual laws that were here before the beginning of time that govern us all.There is a reason that scripture ( the Bible, Koran, Torah - pick one) speaks so often of humility, and the need for us to be pure in heart. Our conscience (guides) will nag us for awhile initially - but some of us ignore it to the point until it is just background noise - no longer heard, completely ignored. That's when the real trouble starts - when we are out there alone with no moral or spiritual compass. Doing whatever, however, and whenever the hell we please.
I continue to be proud to be African American...and absolutely know that Dianne will get (at some point) the professional mental health help that she so desperately needs. In the meantime - goodbye Senator Wilkerson. I am only sorry that you could not learn this particular life lesson in a less painful (for us all) way.

As if this was some big supprise. Hey Dianne it was never a matter of if, only a matter of when. You have been a cheat since you took office. Good riddance and do us all a favor on your way out, dime out the rest of the thieves and scum that you worked along side with. All the filthy politicians that you thought were your friends have certainly turned on you now. Perhaps you can try and redeem yourself somewhat if you do the right thing. You Ms. Wilkerson are a disgrace and I still can't understand how you managed to BS your way through 15 years.

I'm going to the Fill-a-Buster for lunch today. The first thing I'm gonna do is go to the ladies' room and check the ceiling tiles the behind the tampon dispenser for a wallsafe! Who knows?

DISGRACEFUL!!!

Does she keep her Pension by doing so? You "betcha!"
10-15 years in Fed prison is where she belongs.

hey Dianne, why dont you get a flagman job?

How could you Dianne? After all the other times you got away with your corruption of power, you still thought you were untouchable. What a shame. I am a black person, and this is NOT racism. A set up? Bull spit! If you were being set up for 18 months, why did you give them the key to the city? You had 18 months to say something like "no, I will not take a bribe." After reading the 33 page report submitted by the FBI (which reads like a trashy novel), I have absolutely no sympathy for you Dianne. You were willing to take care of people in Florida? What happened to the people in your community? Give the woman time!

YEA!!!!!

A corrupt politician is a corrupt politician reguardless of gender and skin color. So person in comment #5 should not be ashamed of being and African American. Every gender and race has corrupt people.

For 12 years, these ministers supported her through her long history of crimes and ethical lapses, thus ENABLING her to this point. Their present call for her to resign is too little too late. This, like most problems in that community, is SELF-INFLICTED.

She is only in office because of her skin color. She is a crook who shouldn't be elected dog catcher.

Dianne will likely hang in there til the fat lady sings!! After all, look at OJ, he wanted to kill himself in the backseat of his Bronco, but he ended up playing golf every day with big smile.

herb d. -- I think you may need to work on the ol' comprehension skills. Go back and re-read what blueeyedgirl said again... maybe give it another 3 or 4 reads, just for excercise.

Dianne is a small time hood compared to the highway robbery that is going on in the federal gov't. $700 billion dollars of taxpayers money being used to pay bank's bonuses, compensation, and acquisition of other banks. This is outrageous. Barney Frank, Dodd, and all the others (including John Kerry) knew what it would be used for and they all voted for this. Vote these a$$holes out.

EJ,

Well said. It is a sad story and she clearly needs help.

This is a well-educated, articulate woman with a lot going for her. What happened? I ask her friends and family to get her the help she needs. All of her transgressions have been rooted in money. Why didn't she pay condo fees, income taxes, student loans, etc? She has a job that pays well, certainly more than many people in her district, yet she resorts to this? Those who are coverning up her problem(s) need to help her get out of this life that she describes as "madness". It is substance abuse, gambling? Why has her life taken her in this unfortunate direction? Of course she needs to step down, but that is not enough. She needs to address her demons. This is all so very sad. She needs to face the music now, but facing herself is important, also. Something is just not right here.

There should be no pension - that only ads insult to injury.

You mean to tell me I can steal and lie and keep my pension.

**** Only In America****

What is happening to the people, interests and companies who/which paid the bribes? Both they and Wilkerson deserve investigations, trials and if the evidence stands, convictions, with serious penalties. Justice and the real rule of law has to start somewhere and this looks like a pretty good place. As for the lady justice holding the scales with eyes blindfolded--if they blind her to skin color, since everyone has one, and look at actions and laws that would be a good thing, too.

Shame on Dianne Wilkerson. The Klan could not of made us look any worse.

Rambling thoughts: Why so late in the game FBI - are there others along with her? What did she accomplish in office for her constituents (payoffs aside)? I agree she is innocent until proven guilty - even with the pictures! She obviously could have done her job just as well without the money - or was she paying others off to accomplish the goals. Were the payoff goals good for her constituents anyway? Were they bad? I'm fascinated by the whole thing - make a movie! I hope she gets the help she needs when this is all over. Corruption is a sad, sad story.

You can bet that Senator Wilkerson's decisions, starting with the decision not to run again, are made with one eye on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Can't the Senate expel her?

Why is it that people cannot accept the consequences of their actions? Clearly, Dianne is in denial when she says things like she cannot leave her constituents without representation even for 60 days. Furthermore, it seems like she was blinded by power which lead to the corruption. I hope all of those that are associated are brought down too. It's time that politics was cleaned up a bit!

It does feel like there is a bit of a martyr complex here. Despite the message that Dianne seems to be giving, she is not the only person in Boston who can appropriately represent her districts. It also seems that she doesn't get what she doesn't get which got her into this mess in the first place. If she were a person of integrity, she would step aside and out of the public view, clear her name if she believes these charges (and other pending) are in error and run again in the next election when she has had a chance to re-gain the trust of her constituents by proving the charges were false. If it turns out the charges were not false, then her constituents have every right to deny her access to the state house by choosing to vote for another candidate.

By all appearances, Wilkerson is just another seduced politician who harnessed precious temporary empowerment as a state Senator to shakedown constituents for bribery money. Such performance by anyone can only work to produce a devilish role-model and a suicide bomber of public trust.

She is holding on to the end of her term to grab a State Pension.

One aspect of this story that has not been mentioned is the performance of the FBI. The initial article mentioned that the FBI worked on this case for at least two years. It must be pretty difficult to have this kind of case and keep it quiet. My hats off to the FBI.

while i find her behavior reprehensible, i do not believe this reflects on black people in general, as daisy asserted in comment #1. i think it just shines a light on how dirty politics is in general. even if there aren't bribes and kickbacks, quid pro quo is common and accepted. that's why earmarks work at the federal level. can we please stop electing people who value one special interest over another?

I am relieved that Sen. Wilkerson has decided to suspend her sticker
campaign. It was the right thing to do. I very much regret reading comments that this recent development makes all black people look bad. The actions of one person are just that...the actions of one person. Gayle is right.

She wants the rest of her salary until her term ends

It really is a shame that she was caught. She did so much for the district.

I have never been a Wilkerson supporter, but I do believe in the presumption of innocence. If she is innocent, and I doubt that, she owes it to the Senate itself to not resign. I don't like hitting people when they are down, but there have been a pattern of lame excuses to explain away the willful abuse of her power. Ultimately, the people who overlooked her shortcomings and continued to elect her are to blame.

I raise the following question. Even though Ms. Wilkerson is "ceasing and ending her campaign" what if by some long shot she gets elected?? Is that why she is delaying any further comment until 11/5, the day after the election??

It's true she's arrogant but pols in much higher places have shown a lot more arrogance with a lot more at stake than zoning bribes. She should have been expelled until the legal issues are cleared up, but that's a moot point now. Let justice take its course, and enough with all the outrage. There are bigger fish to fry than Dianne Wilkerson.

I suspect that the reason that she was so reluctant to resign was that she probably had a few more payoffs lined up that she wnated to collect on before taking the walk of shame.

If she had half a brain, and a sense of ethics (morale and otherwise), she would resign immediately. She should've never been voted into office anyway - and for that, shame on the voters. So, it makes absolutely no sense to say she was seduced or corrupted by politics... proof is in her history of legal troubles:
1997 - Federal Tax Evasion: $51,000 (maybe this is where she got her bail $)
2005 - Lying under oath to protect her (convicted) murderer nephew
2005 - $30,000 of donations, of which $20,000 she used to buy herself something pretty
2008 - Accepting $23,500 (and Im sure theres more) in bribe money courtesy of an FBI dragnet - Gotcha!

As you can see, Wilerson should've been locked up a long time ago!!
TIME TO PAY THE PIPER DIANNE - YOU ARE A CROOK... DON'T KID YOURSELF!!!

Wow! What a mess! I wonder what she was thinking or why she would trade so much for what doesn't really seem like a lot of money. This doesn't make sense. I haven't been following the issue but just saw this on CNN and searched the web for more 411. To an earlier poster: this isn't about her being a woman or being black... politicians of all shapes and sizes seem to be lured by corruption... look at that old white guy in Alaska! People are people. There must be some big reason she made these bad choices (if, in fact, she's actually guilty -- she's only been accused at this point, right?). She didn't pay taxes... maybe she couldn't afford to. Many of us are in over our heads right now, especially since the bad economy and mortgage crisis... she may have made some really bad choices but she's probably not evil. I feel bad for her supporters too.

Wilkerson was the leader for the homosexual movement in the State House in recent years. She helped get massive funding for GLBT programs in our public schools. She led the charge to overturn the 1913 law, in order to permit same-sex couples from out of state to marry here. Wonder how much MassEquality and GLAD slipped into her bra?

She was a disgrace before this happened....How about the people that continued to vote and support her...Nothing like having a tax evader representing your district---

What do you have to do to get a comment posted here?

Who is the clown behind her in the picture dressed up as a religious figure? Is he trying to give her some moral credibility? If so, it is too late.....Many years too late.

When does she write the book and sell the movie rights?

i guess right about now 'the senator's' i-pod should be up real loud, and i think i hear it….’i'm outta time and all i got is 4 minutes’…tic tock, tic tock, tic tock, tic tock!!!

Yes, without Wilkerson there for the next sixty days her district will be lost without her!

The Dejavu nightclub must be opened! She's got sixty days left to get it done.

The true victim is the Dejavu and the constituents who no longer carry the dream of a new bumpin' nightclub in their vicinty.

I am thoroughly disgusted with Wilkerson. I've always supported her and feel as if she turned her back on the community, her church and her race. Hopefully she realizes the damage she has caused while she sits in jail. This is a sad episode in Massachusetts politics.

I am so happy we have all come to a conclusion that this lady is trash. What a loser! Forget the black vs. white thing, she is a loser, that didn't get the slaps on the wrist before... She makes me sick! At least be a lill more professional about getting the money. Proves how even more stupid she is! She obviously didn't watch any gangsta movies!

Ms. Wikerson is crying out for help..Her past behavior in not paying taxes and other things that she had to give account to is a question is she suffering from some underline health problems. Before everyone go off the wagon in accusing her with these alledge alligations -perhaps the woman is suffering from some form of mental health. This kind of getting in trouble is like these bahavior we see from some of our troubled teenages. Our teenages has their hormone and other underline issues that keeps them in the court system. What kind of problem is Ms. Wilkerson suffering from? A good Psy can give her a good treatment plan and that is STOP MAKING A FOOL OUT OF HERSELF AND LET JUSTICE BE DONE...

So much for the letter Wilkerson wrote saying she would abide by whatever decision the State Senate made. Wilkerson has got to be the dumbest person on the face of the earth right now. She should be kicked to the curb on her hind assets along with others who supported her. This just further proves that there is no such thing as an honest politician, ever!

Tears? What on earth is this woman doing in my senate. If there was any integrity they would have tossed her back when she while writing my tax laws failed to pay her own taxes. When caught she screamed racism, much like that clown Chuck Turner is doing today. Both are a disgrace to public service.

Wilkerson is not alone, but I am tired, so very tired of her blaming "us" for her misdeeds. She is corrupt. There are others who may fall during this scam she got the 23K from. Good. But enough from her, Turner and all the rest who have the gall, the nerve, to yell race.

We are on the verge of electing a black to the high office and for these frauds to trout out the race card to avoidd paying the price for their crimes is unbelievable. Sometime the blind sheep voters who lockstep support these
pathetic farces need to wake up. The state is corrupt. Murray, Demasi, Menino and Tommy Taxes are in it for them and them alone. I hope they all go down.

And enough fake tears Wilkerson. You screwed up., Off to jail now.

And you wonder why we are so cynical of our elected officials. If she worked for a corporation and was found to have taken bribes from a vendor, she would not have had to consult with anyone. She would have been thrown out.

Step 1: Apologize;
Step 2: Resign;
Step 3: Take a plea bargain; and
Step 4: Finally, please just go away, Dianne, so someone with integrity can finally represent my neighborhood in the Senate.

Her arrogance is overwhelming!

It's time for her to step forward, take responsibility for her actions and resign.

If you're caught taking a bribe, especially with the pictures they have of her stuffing money into her bra, it's time for home girl to GO!

Even when I lived in Boston, I always felt there was something unethical about Dianne and this just confirmed those 'gut' feelings.

PEACE!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!
HAAAAA HAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Good riddance you crook!

Q: What's Dianne Wilkerson's bra size?

A: 23K

Every time I see her face I think of the immortal words of Barrack Obama-

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

Now I understand...

I think he means take away the booze from alcoholics who are drinking themselves to death.

I think he means take the oxycontin out of the medicine cabinet if there’s a drug addict living in your home.

I think he means take away the money from politicians addicted to spending, who refuse to reform their spending habits.

Vote Yes on Question #1 to force reform of our bloated state government!

As if standing in front of some minister makes it all better. I bet she needs time to heal and thing about the terrible disease she has. What a joke. What a criminal

The woman is a liar and a thief- has the Senate the guts to expel her forthwith?

How surprising - why would she suspend her compaign now? Isn't it clear that the rules in life don' t apply to Diane Wilkerson? Doesn't pay her taxes, uses her campaign funds illegally...she is unbelievable!!

In the US we have not developed the system or custom of resignation if found to have compromised the office whether there was actually a crime commited or not. The appearance of unethical behavior is all that is needed in European countries. People usually resign immediately if there is any issue of ethical problems, except maybe for Berlusconi. This all started with Nixon's stonewalling during Watergate. In this country now no one resigns not even convicted persons like Sen. Ted Stevens.

What Diane did was wrong, but I am not suprises that it was a set up or someone wants her out of the senate that they maniputated the situation that she did not have any way out but to do that. Just another dirty politic compaign
strategy that her enemy come up with.

If I posted all my thoughts about Ms. Wilkerson's appearance of impropriety, I would likely be accused of being a white racist. (I admit to being white.) I cannot imagine a white, especially Republican, legislator being reelected repeatedly under the cloiud that Ms. Wilkerson has created for herself over a period of years. And to attempt a write-in campaign after being defeated at the Democratic primary suggests either an incredible arrogation or a total unawareness of the situation she has created. Her world is collapsing, and it is all self inflicited. I wish her well in the private sector.

Lady Di, the ultimate gimme girl. She was an easy hook and the Undercover (no pun intended) source must have been jumpin' for joy when he was able to reel in Di Wi so as to wriggle off the FBI's fishing line. There's still a lot of stones to uncover, City Hall for starters, then on to the Golden Dome. It'll be fun to watch the PC blowhards twist in the wind when a few hard questions are posed to them. Morrissey Blvd must be a little worried that Di's gettin' grabbed a few days before Barry's acendency might turn public opinion the other way. Oh dear and heavens to Betsy!! Maybe Club Fed can use the amount of money as her federal prison ID number. priso

What did the scare crow want "A BRAIN" I guess she could use one .
Ask Ex senator Dicarlo from Revere Ma that question.

Like OJ - maybe she can get a pardon from Obama.

Truly pathetic! Another example of why this state is such an embarassment to the rest of the country.

She needs to stay on and represent her distric for the next 60 days? Lady you should be in jail period!!!!! Guilty until proven innocent. Not gonna happen.

She won't resign because she wants the paycheck and the pension. She deserves neither.

She has been corrupt for years, but the people of her district voted her in the last time. Let's hope the law of the land works this time and puts her away where she belongs along with the other corrupt politicians and CEO's.

Meanwhile, if the white folk had a "white coaligtion of ministers" would they not be called racist????? Just who are the racists in this country anyway?????

Anyone know how a resignation vs. expulsion would effect her pension? Are elected officials subject to state pension benefits?

I mean, whatever happens to her, isn't there a high likelihood she'll still be on the MA taxpayers' payroll for some time in the future?

I don't l condone crooked politicians, I also don't condone vultures who want to pick apart someone
who's down. Diane Wilkerson deserves her due process. It is her right. The rush to judgement serves only those who seek to benefit from her troubles. There is time eto let the process take it's course If she is found guilty she justice will be served. The Senate resolution is typical. They positioned themselves to derive benefit from her troubles. By the way I don't live inher district.

I hope the federal judge who sentences her takes her long criminal history into consideration when deciding an appropriate sentence.