Massachusetts Senator charged with extortion | Kevin Colby: News and Political blog

Feds arrest Mass. state senator accused of accepting bribes from undercover agents

Do we have to start hiring baby sitters to watch our politicians? A day after Republican Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty on 7 counts of corruption, Democratic Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was charged with attempted extortion as a public official and theft of honest services as a state senator. She faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.

Wilkerson, 53, lost the Democratic primary in September to Sonia Chang-Diaz despite support from Mayor Thomas Menino and Gov. Deval Patrick. She is running a write-in campaign for the Nov. 4 election, in hopes of retaining the seat she has held since 1993.

U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said it was coincidental the complaint was filed a week before the election. Wilkerson’s attorney, Max Stern, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press for comment.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Wilkerson was recorded by audio and videotape accepting bribes in exchange for helping a proposed nightclub in her district get a liquor license. She also allegedly accepted payments for helping another undercover officer posing as a businessman who wanted to develop state property in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.

Sullivan said Wilkerson accepted eight payments, ranging from $500 to $10,000, during the 17-month investigation.

And these are the idiots we have elected to office to represent us? Nice job assholes. From now on, I say that the penalty for any type of corruption by a elected represetative should result in the death penalty! Read the full story.

Bookmark and Share