Massachusetts state senator arrested for accepting bribes
From Sunshine Review
28 October 2008
Diane Wilkerson, a Massachusetts state senator since 1993, was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges. Wilkerson is accused of accepting $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents who were posing as businessmen.[1] The charges against her include attempted extortion as a public official and theft of honest services as a state senator. If found guilty she could face up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each count.
Legal troubles
The arrest is the latest in a series of troubles for Wilkerson. She was recorded on audio and video taking bribes in exchange for helping a proposed nightclub to attain a liquor license. The Senator is also alleged to have taken payments from another undercover officer who posed as a businessman trying to develop property. During a 17 month investigation, she took 8 payments which ranged from $500 to $10,000.[1]
The week before her arrest, the state Bar Counsel filed a complaint against her, alleging Wilkerson lied under oath in an attempt to overturn her nephew's involuntary manslaughter conviction. Over the years she has served as a public official, she has also been accused of failing to document donations and reimbursements, failing to pay federal income tax, and failing to properly report consulting fees.
Re-election campaign
Despite losing the Democratic primary in September, Wilkerson continued to run a write-in campaign in hopes of keeping her seat. However, on October 31, she announced that she was ending her campaign, simply stating “I am withdrawing from the race. We will not be doing any work on the sticker campaign.” She refused to take any questions from the media.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Associated Press, Feds arrest Mass. senator on corruption charges, October 28, 2008
- ↑ Boston Herald, Wilkerson terminates campaign, October 31, 2008
