Finneran says he 'would not change a thing'
BOSTON --Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, convicted last week of obstruction of justice, said Thursday he was proud of his time in the Legislature and "would not change a thing."
"Even with the events of last week and the plea that I entered in court to the obstruction of justice charge, I can look you square in the eye. I would not change a thing," said Finneran after he was introduced as the new morning talk show host for WRKO-AM 680.
Finneran, 56, acknowledged he was guilty of lying during testimony about his role in redrawing legislative districts in 2001, but said the investigators concluded he did not try to influence the reforming of districts -- including his own -- to specifically favor white people over minorities.
"My neighborhood is black. My district is black. I was a white guy from the beginning to the end. But it was not a question of race with my constituents or my neighbors or my friends. Even the federal court and the prosecutors acknowledged that," he said.
"After a very, very aggressive two-year investigation, they said in open court, no evidence whatsoever of impropriety, no evidence of whatsoever of corruption, no evidence whatsoever of racial manipulation, no evidence whatsoever of trying to whiten the district for political reasons," he said. "And finally, they conceded, an exemplary record of public service."
Still, Finneran, who resigned Tuesday from a $416,000-a-year job as president of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, acknowledged he'd made a mistake.
"I've blemished my record and I realize that. But that blemish stands in contrast to a 26-year history of accomplishment," he said.
The Boston Democrat had been a lobbyist for the group representing the state's life sciences industry since stepping down as speaker two years ago.
Gov. Deval Patrick opened a speech to biotechnology council members Thursday by praising Finneran's stint with the organization.
"Whatever his trespasses, I salute Tom Finneran's leadership of this council and in this industry," Patrick said.
Finneran pleaded guilty last Friday to a charge arising from his testimony before a grand jury on Nov. 14, 2003. The plea deal got him a $25,000 fine, 18 months of unsupervised probation, and the possible suspension or loss of his law license. The state Retirement Board also is reviewing whether to strip him of his nearly $31,000 annual state pension, and could take up his case next month.
Finneran, who is slated to begin his radio job Feb. 12, said he expects some show callers will resent him for his felony conviction.
"When you're in public life, every decision you make earns you some fans and also earns you some foes and some critics. And if you don't have very thick skin, and indeed have the ability to present the posture or the perspective of your decision or your position, you would not last in politics and you'd certainly not last in talk radio," he said. "I realize that virtually every subject is going to on the table."
Jason Wolfe, vice president of programming and operations for Entercom Boston, which owns WRKO, said he first approached Finneran about the talk show job last March.
"I think he is an engaging and extremely compelling personality who will provide us with an incredibly entertaining radio program day in and day out," Wolfe said. "He brings intelligence, wit and passion, all things that are of prime importance to any talk show host's success."
Finneran wouldn't be the first public figure to find refuge on the radio after a fall from grace.
After he was photographed on an infamous "booze cruise" on the public's dime, former Massport head Peter Blute was dumped from his job, but landed a slot on WRKO.
Newspaper columnist Mike Barnicle, who wrote for The Boston Globe for 25 years before questions about plagiarism in his columns led to his resignation in 1998, has the morning slot on WTKK-FM.
