"Why does it always take the feds?"

In response to today’s federal indictment of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins on charges of extortion, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance issued the following statement, questioning how such blatant corruption could happen under Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s watch.

“Sheriff Tompkins allegedly used his public office to shake down a cannabis company for personal gain, and the only reason we know about it is because federal law enforcement stepped in. Where was Attorney General Andrea Campbell? How does a sitting sheriff commit years of misconduct right under her nose,” said Paul Diego Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“This is a law enforcement official allegedly abusing a reentry jobs program to line his own pockets. It’s disgraceful and even more disgraceful that the state’s top law enforcement officer didn’t catch it,” Craney continued.

“While Andrea Campbell has been busy taking junket trips to Paris and suing the federal government over any and all actions they take, a sheriff was allegedly cashing in right in her own backyard. Her priorities are completely out of step with the basic job of holding public officials accountable,” Craney added.

“Why does it always take federal prosecutors to clean up corruption in Massachusetts? Andrea Campbell owes the public an explanation,” Craney concluded.