Campaign regulators refer Thornton Law Firm to Attorney General over suspected illegal contributions

Also under fire for funny money?
A Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe image

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News.

 

Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance officials plan to ask Attorney General Maura Healey to consider prosecuting partners at Boston’s Thornton Law Firm for criminal violations over massive alleged illegal campaign contributions.

 

This scandal hit the fan shortly before the recent presidential election and so raised quite a stink.

 

“Rut roh …”
A CJ Gunther photo

Particularly problematic is the fact that by far the overwhelming bulk of Thornton contributions went to Democratic office holders or candidates for office, including very considerable contributions made to various political campaign-related funds to support the candidacy of eventually unsuccessful Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

 

While it would appear that most of the allegedly illegal straw contributions went to national candidates and national Democratic political action committees, Massachusetts state and local elected officials also received often sizeable contributions from Thornton law firm partners and other of its employees.

 

Not giving it back – or did she?
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For example, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey herself received $7,000.00 from parties tied to the Thornton Law Firm per a search of Office of Campaign and Political Finance data.

 

In turn, such poses – at minimum – a thorny potential conflict of interest for the Attorney General as regards the criminal investigation request submitted to her by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

 

And locally, Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch has received at least $3,500.00 from Thornton Law firm attorneys per a search of Office of Campaign and Political Finance data.

 

What, me worry?
A Quincy Quarry News file photo

While many major national and at least some state elected officials and candidates very quickly announced plans to disgorge funds received from anyone tied to The Thornton Law Firm when things hit the fan last fall, to date there has been no obvious indication that Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch has opted to disgorge the money that he has received from parties tied to Thornton.

 

Then again, perhaps the money Koch received was made via kosher donations; however, if not, such could result in Koch becoming named in six of twelve illegal straw campaign contribution cases sanctioned and/or uncovered by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance in the past several years as well as be a part of the first case ever to be referred to Massachusetts Attorney General for possible criminal prosecution.

 

Enjoying some time away from work
An old Facebook photo

Quincy Quarry considered reaching out to Mayor Koch’s spokesmodel Pinocchio Walkbacker for comment – for example, does the mayor plan to disgorge the $3,500.00 unilaterally; however, as this news broke late in the workweek and Quincy City Hall is now closed for the weekend, the Quarry can only assume that Walkbacker is enjoying a weekend away from the office.

 

 Regardless, Quincy Quarry’s ever growing legions of loyal readers can count on it to continue to relentlessly follow the money. 

 

QQ disclaimer

Following the money
A Warner Brothers image

Read Full Story: Campaign regulators say Thornton Law Firm violated state law, could face criminal prosecution – The Boston Globe