Bay State run by men of steal

Article 6-4-09

State's highest power, ex House
Speaker Sal DiMasi and three
associates, indicted on federal
corruption charges

by Howie Carr
DNN Staff - EXCLUSIVE!
Thursday, Jun. 4, 2009

This isn’t a democracy, it’s a kleptocracy.

Three in a row - three House speakers in a row indicted, and two convicted. And poor Sal DiMasi, this time I think the G-men are finally going to have to throw one of those crooked hacks into prison. A speaker indicted has become a standing headline. It’s expected, like the archbishop of Boston getting his red hat.

Try not to let it destroy your faith in the integrity of the Massachusetts General Court.

To understand how thoroughly corrupt this entire system has become, consider the connections among everyone in this rancid tale. Sal’s lawyer Tom Kiley used to represent Senate President Billy Bulger in his travails and is now a business partner of Bulger’s successor, Bob Travaglini.

Bulger’s mentor in politics was the late Sonny McDonough, whose son Dickie is also indicted. Dickie McDonough’s lawyer is Tom Dreschler, partner of Felon Finneran. Finneran is the unspeakable hack speaker, pathetic radio talk-show host and on-the-verge-of-being-disbarred lobbyist who preceded DiMasi. The Felon went down on an obstruction of justice rap.

After fleeing the State House, Felon Finneran took over the Mass Biotech Council. When he pleaded guilty, claiming his mind, such as it is, was addled by Advil, the Felon had to give up his $400,000-a-year job at the Council.

He was succeeded by Robert Coughlin, then a rep from Dedham, whose name now turns up on page 10 of the DiMasi indictment as “the sponsor for two educational budget amendments relating to technology” - i.e., the bills for which Sal “earned” the $57,000 he so badly needed to keep his trophy wife, Debbie, in the style to which she had become accustomed.

Coughlin, who in the House was merely a go-along-to-get-along dupe, is not charged. But if you’re on the board of the Biotech Council, you’ve got to be at least a bit chagrined about your recent hires.

Another indictee is Richard Vitale, Sal’s accountant and holder of his third mortgage. Vitale was initially represented by Richie Egbert, who is now deceased. But when Felon Finneran was trying to stay out of prison, his lawyer was . . . Richie Egbert.

Here’s my favorite quote, from (what else?) an e-mail:

“Sal said when he wants something done within his domain he is ultimately going to get what he wants.”

I hope Sal now wants to go to prison, because my guess is that’s where he’s headed.

DNN phographer zooms in on Ex House
Speaker Sal DiMasi just as indictments on
federal corruption charges were being read
to him.

Bernabei, Graham, O'Reilly, Carr, Siciliano