POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: HEFNER indicted — ‘WYNN’ on thin ice — The TRANS RIGHTS ballot battle
HEFNER indicted — ‘WYNN’ on thin ice — The TRANS RIGHTS ballot battle
03/30/2018 07:01 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF - and Happy Passover and Easter to those who celebrate.
HEFNER INDICTED - Another twist in the wild saga of the state Senate came yesterday as Attorney General Maura Healey and Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley announced Bryon Hefner, husband of now-former state Senate President Stan Rosenberg, had been indicted on five counts of felony charges connected to sexual assault, criminal lewdness, and distributing nude photos without consent.
Their criminal investigation was concurrent with the state Senate's own independent investigation into whether or not Rosenberg violated the chambers rules.
Rosenberg made no mention of Hefner in response to the press about the charges yesterday, which were first reported in detail by the Boston Globe, leading to the subsequent investigation. "These are serious charges," Rosenberg said in a statement. "They are now being handled by the judicial system. I have faith in that system and trust that it will adjudicate this case fairly."
Rosenberg's challenger, Chelsea Kline, focused on Hefner's alleged victims: "I believe the survivors. Today is about them, and I applaud their courage in coming forward." Kline, a Northampton Democrat, announced her bid to challenge Rosenberg on Wednesday in an announcement that made no mention of the now-former Senate President.
Outgoing state Sen. Barbara L'Italien, one of the increasing number of sitting state senators on their way out of the chamber, offered one of the most vocal criticisms of Rosenberg: "he's had a wonderful career and he ought to consider calling it a career," she told WGBH's Mike Deehan.
Hefner, who has stayed out of the spotlight since Rosenberg announced his husband was seeking treatment for alcohol dependency in December, is set to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 24.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders on the administration's CARE Act to combat opioid addiction and announce grant funding for local substance misuse programs to expand overdose prevention and training in a press conference with local health care advocates in South Boston.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Hefner indicted for sexual assaults, nude photos," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Bryon Hefner, the husband of former Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, has been indicted on felony charges in connection with sexual assault, criminal lewdness, and distributing nude photos without consent, Attorney General Maura Healey and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley announced late Thursday. Hefner, 30, faces five counts of indecent assault and battery charges, one count of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, and four counts of dissemination of a visual image of a nude or partially nude person."
DELEO'S COVER-UP WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS!
- "Mass. House waived all past NDAs. But it won't make them public," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Amid the fractious floor debate this month over its sexual harassment policies, the House of Representatives passed a measure waiving any previous nondisclosure agreements - effectively releasing former employees from their pact with the chamber to keep silent. The top attorney for the chamber - which enjoys an exemption from public records law - is refusing a Globe request for copies of any of the 33 written agreements that House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said have been signed since 2010."
- "After indictment of Sen. Stan Rosenberg's husband, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Rosenberg's challenger applaud victims," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker offered praise for the victims for stepping forward after Sen. Stan Rosenberg's husband, Bryon Hefner, was indicted on sexual assault charges and allegations of distributing nude photos without consent. 'Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor [Karyn] Polito commend those who came forward to report these despicable actions
CHARLIE BAKER IS INCAPABLE OF LEADERSHIP!
- "Healey calls on Baker to address transparency concerns over State Police records," by Matt Rocheleau, Boston Globe:"Attorney General Maura Healey is calling on Governor Charlie Baker to take more leadership in addressing transparency concerns raised in the wake of revelations that payroll records for an entire State Police division were not disclosed for years. 'It's time that the Baker administration take a leadership role on this issue,' Healey told reporters Thursday."
FUNDS OF A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY WERE USED TO PAY FOR STEVE WYNN'S FOLLY!
HOW MANY LAWS WERE BROKEN? IS THE SEC INVESTIGATING?
WILL WYNN STILL HAVE HIS NEVADA LICENSES? AND ELSEWHERE?
- "Gaming commission says Wynn Resorts builds casino on 'at-risk basis'," by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe: "In other words, don't assume how the investigation may turn out by how the commission handles its regular business. The commission's staff hopes to complete the investigation into the company's handling of the accusations against Steve Wynn by summer."
- "'Wynn' may be dropped from name of Everett casino resort," by Jordan Graham, Boston Herald: "Executives at the massive Wynn Resorts casino in Everett are 'absolutely' considering renaming the property, casino president Robert DeSalvio said today ... The Gaming Commission has been flooded with calls from residents and politicians - including Attorney General Maura Healey and Gov. Charlie Baker - to remove Wynn from the name in the wake of allegations of rampant sexual harassment and misconduct against Steve Wynn, who stepped down as CEO of the company earlier this year."
BRAVO TO AG HEALEY FOR PROTECTING MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMERS!
- "Healey: Shut Down Competitive Electric Residential Supply Market," by Colin A. Young, State House News:"Saying that the industry has preyed upon elderly and low-income residents for too long with aggressive and deceptive practices, Attorney General Maura Healey on Thursday called for the end of the competitive electricity supply market for residential customers. Electric customers in Massachusetts who switched to a competitive electric supplier paid $176.8 million more than they would have had they stayed with their utility company from July 2015 to June 2017, the two-year period during which Healey's office was investigating the industry, her office announced."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Warren town hall set for Dorchester next week; The Reporter will host April 5 event at BTU hall," by Jennifer Smith, Dorchester Reporter: "The Dorchester Reporter will host a town hall event with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a candidate for reelection this year, next Thursday evening, April 5, at the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) hall on Columbia Point in Dorchester. This will be the senator's first town hall in Boston since summer 2016, although she is a frequent presence at local union rallies, political marches, and visits with health centers and other institutions vulnerable to federal budget alterations."
- "Treat the opioid crisis like the HIV/AIDS epidemic: Elizabeth Warren & Elijah Cummings," by Elijah Cummings and Elizabeth Warren, USA Today: "It is time for Congress to show the same political courage that our colleagues showed nearly 30 years ago. That's why we intend to introduce legislation to establish a comprehensive system for funding and local decision-making to address opioid addiction and substance use that is modeled directly on the highly successful Ryan White CARE Act."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- Read the internal poll putting Barbara L'Italien at the front of the crowded MA-3 field - An internal poll conducted by the Barbara L'Italien campaign and released to donors yesterday on the last day of fundraising for the quarter before being floated in the press today shows the state Senator with the largest vote share in the race so far with 19 percent support. Her next nearest opponent, Dan Koh, has 8 percent. Of the Third District voters, 55 percent are undecided. Read the memo, conducted by EMC Research .
- "3RD DISTRICT RACE: Keith St. John hopes fresh ideas connect with young voters," by Chris Lisinski, the Lowell Sun:"Compared to the rest of the 3rd Congressional District race, Keith St.John's qualifications and policies are unconventional. The owner and sole employee of an online company that imports and sells compression socks from Portugal, St. John has degrees in economics and finance but has never worked in politics."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "STAN'S MAN INDICTED." - Globe: "Rosenberg's husband is indicted," "NRA is using race as tool in latest fight," "BEACH ACCESS STIRS SANDSTORM," "Can the kids give us a Hollywood ending?" "State Police won't just move us along," "SOX CAN'T CLOSE OUT OPENER."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Is Massachusetts the next transgender rights battleground?," by yours truly: "Deep-blue Massachusetts may seem an unlikely battleground in the fight over transgender rights. But supporters and opponents alike say a November ballot question on whether to strike down the state's recently enacted law protecting transgender individuals in public spaces could be the next crucible in the national debate."
- "Marijuana dispensaries may begin applying for licenses in April," by WCVB 5 ABC: "Prospective purveyors of pot will be able to begin the process of applying for state licenses in Massachusetts as early as Monday, the Cannabis Control Commission announced. The commission filed its final guidelines on March 9, six days ahead of the deadline, and the rules took effect Thursday when they were published in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations."
- "Boston Mayor's Aides Return To Work, Paid Leave Costs Taxpayers $410K," by Ryan Kath, WBZ CBS Boston: "Two high-ranking aides to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh have quietly returned to their jobs at City Hall. The development comes after a judge dismissed the high-profile extortion case against Timothy Sullivan and Kenneth Brissette."
PEOPLE MIGHT THINK HE'S STUPID...HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND CONFIRMS IT!
- "Springfield pastor says he's 'afraid for the soul' of Domenic Sarno after mayor's threat of crackdown on church sanctuary," by Peter Goonan, MassLive.com: "The pastor of a church that is providing sanctuary to a Peruvian woman in fear of deportation and her children said Wednesday he is 'afraid' for the soul of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. The comments from Rev. Tom Gerstenlauer, pastor of South Congregational Church on Maple Street, came after Sarno ordered city departments to inspect the church property, seek out any code violations and begin challenging the church's tax-exempt status."
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Playbook superfan and Eden Prairie, Minnesota's two-time Firefighter of the Year Jeff Dezenski, who celebrated yesterday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY -- to Kimberly Atkins, chief Washington reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, Emily Levine, assistant director of programs at Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center, Alex Kingsbury, deputy ideas editor at Boston Globe and a WBUR alum and Victoria Ireton, field director for Rep. Seth Moulton's campaign.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND -- to Rep. Stephen Lynch, who is 63, former Rep. Barney Frank, who is 78, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diazand the BRA's deputy director of development review and government affairs Mike Christopher, who all celebrate on Saturday and Sunday birthday-ers Western Mass Politics and Insight scribe Matt Szafranski and Globe reporter Dan Adams, who celebrate on none other than April Fools.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and No! The Bruins beat the Lightning, 4-2, but the Red Sox fell to the Rays, 6-4.
NEW THIS MORNING - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: We're answering your questions on ballots and questions on ballot questions this week on The Horse Race First Pam Wilmot, head of Common Cause Massachusetts, explains Automatic Voter Registration and why it's a big deal. Then political reporter Shira Schoenberg joins us for an update on the final version of the criminal justice reform bill. Finally, Steve and Lauren look at the impending decisions on three big revenue issues: the minimum wage, the "millionaire's tax" and the sales tax ballot questions. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud
OUTTA THIS WORLD - POLITICO Space is our new, free weekly briefing on the policies and personalities shaping the second space age in Washington and beyond. Sign-up today to start receiving the newsletter right at launch on April 6th. Presented by Boeing.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
FOR MORE political and policy news from Massachusetts, check out: http://politi.co/1qNSlWx
SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook http://politi.co/2lQswbh ... New York Playbook http://politi.co/1ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1OypFe9 ... New Jersey Playbook http://politi.co/1HLKltF ... Massachusetts Playbook http://politi.co/1Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbook http://politi.co/1N7u5sb ... California Playbook http://politi.co/2bLvcPl ... Brussels Playbook http://politi.co/1FZeLcw ... London Playbook http://politi.co/2xfDPuK ... All our political and policy tipsheets http://politi.co/1M75UbX
POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
Comments
Post a Comment