DiMasi 'very upset' his 'good name' called into question
By Matt Viser, Globe Staff
House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi this afternoon sought to defend himself against a Globe report that he is refusing to comply with a demand for records from the state Ethics Commission in its conflict-of-interest investigation.
“I’ve always acted in the most ethical ways here in the Legislature,” DiMasi said as he entered Governor Deval Patrick’s office for a weekly leadership meeting. ”And any decision I’ve ever made was in the best interest of the people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
“I’m very upset that -- and I’m disturbed -- that my good name has been called into question,” he added. “Obviously, you know, I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. And I will defend myself in that manner in any way I can.”
DiMasi would not answer questions about the commission’s investigation, or even say whether he was cooperating with them, citing the confidential nature of the investigation.
“I really can’t say much about anything,” he said.
He would not answer whether he would run for speaker again in January.
Senate President Therese Murray, as she was entering the meeting, would not answer any questions about DiMasi, saying, “I don’t know anything about that.”
The Globe reported this morning that DiMasi rebuffed the Ethic Commission’s request for documents. Lawyers representing the panel filed a motion on Oct. 21 in Suffolk Superior Court to force him to comply, said officials familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The motion, which is pending before Judge Geraldine Hines, was filed under DiMasi's name but was later changed to John Doe, a court official said. Specifically what records the commission's investigators are seeking from DiMasi and his reasons for not complying could not be learned. All of the court documents have been shielded from public view by court orders.
Here is DiMasi’s complete response to questions from reporters this afternoon:
Q: Mr. Speaker, what can you say to the voters of Massachusetts about the report that you’re not cooperating with an ethics committee investigation?
A: Well let me just say, I’ve said this before, that I’ve always acted in the most ethical ways here in the legislature. And any decision I’ve ever made was in the best interest of the people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. You know, I’m very upset that -- and I’m disturbed -- that my good name has been called into question. Obviously, you know, I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. And I will defend myself in that manner in any way I can.
Q: Are you going to turn over records?
A: You have to understand that, you know, I have always conducted myself in the most ethical way. The problem is that we have laws that say that anything that may or may not be before the ethics commission is confidential. And therefore I won’t violate that either. That’s a violation of the law. So obviously I can’t say anything about that.
Q:You could certainly say if you were cooperating fully with them.
A: I really can’t say much about anything. There is nothing I can tell you about whether there is or isn’t anything before the Ethics Commission because of strict confidentiality, and I think everybody should abide by that. That’s all I can say.
Q: Do you think you could you stay as speaker if you weren’t cooperating with them?
(No response)
Q:Do you plan to run again in January for speaker?
(No response)
Q:What about any records, Sal. Are you going to turn over records they asked for?
A: “I can’t confirm anything that might be before them.”
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His "good name"..........is this a joke?
I believe him, I also believe politicians enter political life to make my life better, I believe in Santa Claus and I believe in weapons of mass destruction
following in the line of previous self serving speakers,they always stick around to long while trying to get that last dime.wilkerson got her indictment,maybe the feds have one for you sal.
I feel I need to take a shower after reading his comments.
Ummm ... lets see ... Haven't we seen this behaviour before?
Now what were there names again? Oh yeah -- James and Tom ... wow, Tom and Jerry?
My unblemished reputation -- hang on a few while I catch my breath.
Here's candidate #1 for Patrick's Ethics in Government 101
Riiiight.....a politician talking about his "good name" - that would be an oxymoron.
I uderstand that If "SlickSal" doesn't run again for majority leader, he will join "Darling Diane" on the new Ethics Committee that "Departing Deval" seeks to establish before he flees the Commonwealth for Washington when his pal Obama, the President Elect, appoints him to some cool "No Show Job". Its tough to be a pol in Mass!
Really, who would want to be Speaker anymore. It's like being the head of a Mafia family....your always the target. Look at the last few don's (I mean Speakers), they all left under scandal. Your better off with a nice committee chairmanship, where you can "earn" and get PAC money for your campaign fund (slush money for life).
The thing is................I actually DO believe people enter political life to make other's lives better. I think the whole system is so corrupt that they must turn corrupt to get anything done (you scratch my back.....I'll scratch yours). I'm sure it starts out slowly where they can almost convince themselves that the end justifies the means. By the time they get re-elected over and over and over again, they are so caught up in the corruption that it just becomes business as usual. I'm really disapointed in Coakley. She seemed so smart and honest to me at one time. Now.........not so much.
I can't believe the Globe is questioning a democrat????
Sal & Diane in 2012!
What else is DiMasi going to say.....He is so wrapped up in has self image he may actually believe what he is saying...then again, maybe not...
Hey Sal,
Remember the Traeger Bill in 1982? You were the only Boston pol to vote against it. Payback time. Resign and let an honest person take your place.
As someone once said "no one is safe while the legislature is in session" - and we wonder why we have a brain drain!
He has to be kidding!He is the worst offender there is!This guy is brutal.I hope to god the people of ths state wake the hell up and stop re electing these dirty pols.This guy is the poster boy
I am also shocked that the daily democratic talking points also known as the Boston Globe would actually question this clown.
Who is the person you have to see to get a court officers job, Sal who... and why is that for what how much what did i brake a window.....
If Mr Obama wins Which I hope NOT here is part of his new staff Secretary of Transprtation DeVille Patrick- Secretary of Finance Diane Bilkerson Opps Wilkerson and the new Press secretary Sal DiMasi esq. Remember VOTE YES ON QUESTION ONE!
Another reason to VOTE YES ON QUESTION #1.
Another skank MA politician... what else is new...
Sal DiMasi and Diane Wilkerson are two good reasons to vote to get rid of the Mass. sales tax. Massachusetts politics is rotten with every pols pals on the payroll.
I hear ya Homer...
....don't it just scare you that 60%+ of the people are ready to vote to continue to give their money to the state? There's a chance to stop it and force cutbacks for an overblown budget...and people are either scared into voting no or don't trust the pols to cut out the fat...
Vote yes and watch the rats scramble for leftovers...
They all are crooks
From Bulger (the speaker) to Finneran to Wlkerson., they are are crooks
Vote Yes on question 1.
If 60% of the people ever vote no they we are really in trouble in this state.How do you vote for a tax you have to be ready for thr funny farm.If an average of $3000, a year more in your pocket won't help you I do not know what will.The extra money gets spent in the state and helps the economy.Do not let anyone tell you anything else. They can only raise your taxes as the law allows and that is Prop 2.5 so YES ONE ONE AND PUT THE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET NOT THEIRS
Just remember, a major event against taxes in Massachusets, The Boston Tea Party, was illegal at the time.
"...And I will defend myself in that manner in any way I can...."
Pleading the 5th is one way in which an individual can defend himself but it doesn't help protect one's good name. No one has asked for a comment on the specifics before the Ethics commission - just whether or there is cooperation. There are no laws against saying that you're cooperating fully (Mayor Menino has said that he is).
Sal you crook! Step down or we indite!
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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