Senate Pres. Murray: I'm unaware of any wrongdoing

BOSTON (WWLP) - Senate President Therese Murray says she is unaware of any wrongdoing when it comes to the process of hiring staff at the state probation department .

Last week, three former probation department officials, including ex-commissioner John O’Brien, were indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged role in rigging the agency’s hiring practices so that politically well-connected applicants would get jobs.

According to a Boston Globe report , Murray, who has not been accused of any crime, is outlined in the indictment as having sponsored three hired candidates who were less qualified than other candidates.

On Monday, Murray (D-Plymouth) told 22News that she never made a phone call on behalf of the probation department applicants. According to the Senate President, applicants send a resume and letter to her constituent office, and they take it from there.

“I put out a statement saying I was quite surprised, since my office receives scores and scores of requests, every week, every month, for references or referrals, recommendations of private, public institutions, institutions of higher learning, health care, you name it, that’s what our constituent offices do,” Murray said.

On Friday, Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) released statements denying any wrongdoing on their parts.

US Attorney Carmen Ortiz has commented that while patronage "may be very unseemly, maybe unethical," it is not in and of itself illegal.