Sheriff's trial could be a headache for leading Boston Dems
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Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins heads to federal court Monday to face extortion charges that could end his 13-year tenure and land him in prison.
Why it matters: A conviction would cost the powerful Democratic insider his $191,000 annual salary and his ample pension.
- It would also send shockwaves through Democratic political circles and the state's highly regulated cannabis industry.
Catch up quick: Federal prosecutors allege Tompkins used his office to squeeze cannabis executive Frank Perullo for $50,000 in pre-IPO stock in Ascend Wellness in 2020.
- He demanded a refund after those shares weren't as valuable as he'd hoped, authorities say.
- The alleged leverage stemmed from the power Tompkins had over the company through a hiring arrangement.
- Ascend depended on referrals from Tompkins' jails to meet state social equity mandates and keep its marijuana license.
The other side: Defense attorney Martin Weinberg counters that Tompkins bought the stock like any normal investor.
- He says the sheriff's deep social ties to the company's leadership are proof extortion wasn't needed.
Between the lines: Tompkins has built deep roots in the Boston Democratic establishment since Gov. Deval Patrick appointed him in 2013.
- Elected officials hesitated to call for his resignation following his Aug. 8 arrest in Florida. That reflects Tompkins' entrenched influence.
Yes, but: Jurors might not get to hear about Tompkins' past missteps.
- Weinberg is fighting to exclude two prior state ethics violations: a 2015 campaign sign dispute and a 2023 scandal involving a taxpayer-funded job for his niece.
- Prosecutors want them admitted to prove Tompkins knows the boundaries between public duty and personal gain.
By the numbers: 40 years behind bars is the maximum combined sentence for the two felony extortion counts, plus $500,000 in fines.
- One year has passed with the department operating in limbo under an appointed special sheriff.
What's next: State law says a guilty verdict would automatically strip Tompkins of his seat if he receives a prison sentence.
- If the seat opens, expect a special election with names like former primary challenger Sandy Zamor Calixte in the mix.
What we're watching: There could be rumbles of a broader political debate over whether sheriffs should be appointed rather than elected.