Andover State Senator Apologizes For Email Gaffe

ANDOVER, MA -- State Sen. Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) is blaming an auto-population error in her email software for sending a fundraising email to supporters from her official, State House email account. State Senate rules prohibits officials and employees from receiving "compensation or permit compensation to accrue to the member, officer or employee’s beneficial interest by virtue of influence improperly exerted from the member, officer or employee’s position in the Senate." L’Italien is one of 10 Democrats running to replace U.S. Rep Nikki Tsongas (D-Lowell), who is not seeking reelection.

At 6:29 pm Saturday, L'Italien sent out the email seeking $500 donations for "the only Planned Parenthood ‘Champion’ in this race" under the subject line "Breaking up the boys’ club." At 6:53 pm she sent out an follow-up email in which she apologized for sending it from her State House email address.

"An email went out a couple minutes ago to my campaign list, in which the ‘from’ field contained an official State House email account. This was done in error, caused by auto-population of that field," she wrote.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).