There are numerous stories about corruption involving Democrats in major cities nationwide, creating a lengthy list akin to a telephone directory. The most recent sordid revelation involves alleged corruption unfolding in Boston, brought to attention by Andy Ngo:
He wrote on his X account:
An individual supposedly hired a family member and diverted taxpayer money to this person, resulting in cash kickbacks. Allegedly, substantial amounts of cash were exchanged in the restroom at Boston City Hall. Ms. Fernandes Anderson, a city council member, reportedly earned $115,000 annually.
Democrats and leftists have frequently lauded Ms. Fernandes Anderson for her use of race-based identity politics in Boston, a strategy that resonates with affluent, white liberal individuals.
The details on what led to her arrest are truly damning, and if true, would constitute a serious breach of the public trust.
Fernandes Anderson was under investigation by federal authorities and FBI agents were seen outside her home in Dorchester this morning as she was taken into custody, according to WCVB. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is now calling on her to resign.
The Democrat lawmaker is facing five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, a court filing by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts says.
The feds say that the charges stem from Fernandes Anderson’s alleged acts in 2022, when she knowing hired an immediate family member, while cutting a deal with that person to kick back “additional compensation” Fernandes Anderson promised to pay. Not only is this stealing from the city’s coffers, but the law bars hiring family members and paying them as staff members. The councilor allegedly hired a second family member too.
The legal filing details how the transaction allegedly went down, reading, in part:
Within seconds, Fernandes Anderson texted Staff Member A, “Ready” to confirm that Fernandes Anderson was ready to accept the $7,000 cash kickback from Staff Member A.
Shortly following these texts, Staff Member A handed Fernandes Anderson approximately $7,000 in cash at a bathroom in City Hall.
The report continued:
The filing also says Boston City Councilors were not allowed to hire immediate family members to their paid staff, yet in 2022, Fernandes Anderson hired two such individuals.
Prosecutors say Fernandes Anderson later fired those two employees and was informed by the Ethics Commission of a $5,000 fine relating to that incident.
WCVB reported that a state campaign finance body also notified her campaign of potentially breaking election law in November:
Earlier this week, Fernandes Anderson said she was “not thinking about quitting. I’m not thinking about stepping down.”
Friday evening, Mayor Wu’s voice was joined by those of five councilors, who released statements urging Fernandes Anderson to step aside, to allow, as one said, “the legal process to unfold without undue disruption” to the city’s business.
Council president Ruthzee Louijeune, and councilors Erin Murphy, Ed Flynn, Sharon Durkan, and Gabriela Coletta Zapata issued statements urging Fernandes Anderson to give up her seat on the council after federal authorities arrested Fernandes Anderson, alleging that she paid a staffer a $13,000 bonus and received $7,000 in cash in return as a kickback.
“Like any member of the community, Councilor Fernandes Anderson has the right to a fair legal process,” Wu said in a statement Friday morning. “But the serious nature of these charges undermine the public trust and will prevent her from effectively serving the city.”
…
Louijeune also released a statement saying she believes Fernandes Anderson’s resignation would “allow the legal process to unfold without undue disruption” to the council.
Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen said, in a statement reported in Fox News’ story, linked above:
“Her behavior, as alleged in today’s indictment, is a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers in the city of Boston who have every right to expect that the city’s funds are in good and honest hands.
“This case illustrates how the FBI, and our partners, are working hard every day to battle public corruption and the corrosive damage it does to people’s faith in government.”
You can read the full filing
We’ll keep you posted on any updates on the charges against Fernandes Anderson.
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