Reaction to Timothy Cahill's indictments

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Former State Treasurer Timothy Cahill was indicted on public corruption charges for his alleged role in orchestrating an advertising campaign for the State Lottery, funded with taxpayer dollars, that was intended to assist his 2010 campaign for governor, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Monday.

The following are releases sent out by local lawmakers on their reaction to Cahill's indictments:

Treasurer Steven Grossman [Monday] issued the following statement upon news of the indictment of former Treasurer Tim Cahill and two of his former staffers:

“These indictments detail fundamental and outrageous violations of the public trust, as well as gross abuse of public office.  We have cooperated fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.  From day one, we have implemented long overdue reforms at Treasury to make it more transparent, professional and accountable to all citizens of the Commonwealth.”

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement [Monday] in response to the indictment of former Treasurer Tim Cahill:

The indictment of former Treasurer Tim Cahill is another black-eye for politics in Massachusetts. This most recent exploitation of the public’s trust in their elected officials serves as a call to arms for ethics reform on Beacon Hill.

The charges against the former Treasurer are further confirmation of the need for consideration of the House Republicans’ ethics package. However, the Democratic majority continues to impede substantive changes to the ethical guidelines that govern elected officials in the Bay State.

Once and for all, we must dismiss the notion that elected officials can abuse the public’s trust. Only by holding ourselves to a higher standard can we convince the public that situations involving the abuse of power are the exception on Beacon Hill and not the rule.

These allegations are troubling. If proven in court, they warrant serious consequences. Meanwhile, I remain confident that the overwhelming majority of public workers do their best honorably and ethically to serve the interests of the Commonwealth's residents. It’s especially disappointing to me that charges like these cast a shadow over their good work. – Statement of Governor Deval Patrick

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