< Back to front page Text size – +

Turner: Election victory emboldens fight to prove his innocence

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 4, 2009 12:57 PM

By Globe Staff

Councilor Chuck Turner sent a letter thanking his supporters today for looking past his federal indictment and sending him back to the City Council for another term.

Chuck Turner

The five-term Roxbury incumbent cast his 20-point victory as a mandate "to continue my fight to prove that former US Attorney Sullivan tried to publicly humiliate and jail me despite his knowledge that I am innocent." Turner wrote in the letter that he has directed his attorney to prepare a motion to dismiss the charges.

"Now that my continuation as the District 7 Councilor is assured, I will focus my attention on disposing of the government’s bogus case," Turner wrote. "As long as the question of my guilt or innocence is unresolved, I will not be able to serve as a Chair of any Council Committee based on a ruling by the Council President."

Turner's letter to his supporters follows below in its entirety:

November 4, 2009
Dear Supporters,

I am thrilled to have won such a landslide victory in yesterday’s District 7 City Council race. I view this victory not only as a mandate to continue my leadership as Councilor but also to continue my fight to prove that former US Attorney Sullivan tried to publicly humiliate and jail me despite his knowledge that I am innocent.

Now that my continuation as the District 7 Councilor is assured, I will focus my attention on disposing of the government’s bogus case. As long as the question of my guilt or innocence is unresolved, I will not be able to serve as a Chair of any Council Committee based on a ruling by the Council President. Thus to eliminate this impediment to my service I have directed my lead lawyer, Barry P Wilson, to prepare a motion to dismiss the charges.

I have also instructed him to take whatever steps necessary to secure the “so called evidence” that the government claims to have. I continue to believe that the government’s demand that I give up my freedom of speech in order to receive “their evidence” is an outrageous denial of justice. However, my lawyers advise me that their ability to see the “evidence” strengthens their ability to prove former US Attorney Sullivan joined the historic pattern of government persecution of black elected officials by basing his case on his political desires not on the pursuit of justice.

Since receipt of the “evidence” will limit my ability to discuss the particulars of the case, I will focus my discussion in the court of public opinion on US Attorney Sullivan –his history, his objectives, and his relationship to the press. It is amazing that the Boston media has focused so little attention on former US Attorney John Ashcroft’s bankrolling Sullivan’s future despite the profile of Sullivan as a weak, somewhat inept US Atty.

In closing, let me thank all of you who supported me during the darkest moment of my life. Without your support, I would not have survived the early assaults and certainly would not have had the strength and courage to persevere despite the odds and the attacks. I am truly indebted to you all. Let me end by publicly thanking Terri, my wife, for her love and faith which has served as a shield against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Sincerely,
chuck