Politics
“I’ve accomplished nothing improper and so, I’m completely not resigning,” Arroyo advised a TV information outlet.
Going through mounting stress to resign after two federal stories tied him to U.S. Legal professional Rachael Rollins’s alleged meddling in final 12 months’s Suffolk County district lawyer race, Boston Metropolis Councilor Ricardo Arroyo has made it clear he has no plans to step down.
Chatting with WHDH exterior his house in Hyde Park, Arroyo doubled down on his earlier statement that the current stories from the Division of Justice inspector normal and U.S. Workplace of Particular Counsel don’t accuse him of any wrongdoing.
“I’ve accomplished nothing improper and so, I’m completely not resigning,” he advised the information outlet.
The stories accuse Rollins of serving as a “de facto marketing campaign advisor” to Arroyo and trying to “sabotage” his opponent, then-Interim Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden. Rollins, the earlier district lawyer, allegedly leaked delicate data in an try and create the general public impression that the DOJ was or could be investigating Hayden, who went on to win the election.
“The report was very clear that I by no means requested her to do these issues and I by no means knew that these items have been taking place,” Arroyo advised WHDH.
In response to the stories, dealing with information protection of sexual assault allegations made in opposition to him when he was in highschool, Arroyo messaged Rollins in August 2022 and mentioned that the announcement of an investigation into Hayden “[w]ould be the most effective factor I can have occur at this second.”
“Understood,” Rollins responded. “Maintain combating and campaigning. I’m engaged on one thing.”
The revelations concerning the 2022 Suffolk DA race are amongst a number of acts of misconduct Rollins is accused of committing throughout her time because the state’s high federal prosecutor. She introduced her resignation earlier this week and is predicted to step down Friday.
Arroyo has additionally confronted calls to resign, with fellow Metropolis Councilor Erin Murphy telling Boston.com Thursday, “I consider he ought to ask himself if he’s the individual on this second to satisfy the wants of the individuals of District 5 and Boston.”
Metropolis Council President Ed Flynn additionally launched a statement addressing the “troubling stories,” although he didn’t title Arroyo.
“Latest stories and troubling data has as soon as once more solid a shadow over the Boston Metropolis Council, inflicting a significant distraction throughout each the price range and redistricting course of,” Flynn wrote. “That is hurting our metropolis at a crucial time, and the residents of Boston deserve higher.”
Arroyo advised WHDH he hasn’t spoken to fellow metropolis councilors about requires his resignation, although he advised these calls could also be politically motivated given the Metropolis Council’s ongoing redistricting debate.
The conservative-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance has additionally urged Arroyo to resign, sending a letter to the Workplace of Marketing campaign and Political Finance Thursday requesting an investigation into whether or not Arroyo broke marketing campaign finance regulation by allegedly coordinating with Rollins and “receiving one thing … of serious worth” to profit his marketing campaign.
“Boston Metropolis Councilor Ricardo Arroyo issued a press release by which he claimed he did nothing improper. The proof being launched by federal authorities appears to say in any other case,” MassFiscal spokesperson Paul Diego Craney mentioned in a launch. “Arroyo ought to instantly step down from his place on the Boston Metropolis Council.”
He added: “Massachusetts has not seen this degree of public corruption in a very long time.”
Mayor Michelle Wu advised reporters Friday, “It is a unhappy scenario throughout,” per WHDH video of the remarks.
With Boston’s municipal election developing within the fall, she mentioned she would depart it as much as voters to determine whether or not Arroyo ought to keep in workplace.
“For elected officers, our primary supply of accountability is being on the poll and placing our views and commitments and positions out to the general public,” Wu mentioned.
Ought to Councilor Ricardo Arroyo resign from Boston Metropolis Council?
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Originally posted 2023-05-19 17:44:07.