Murray Defends Referrals to Probation Department

Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, allegedly influenced hiring decisions within the probation department according to the indictment indictment of former probation commissioner John J. O’Brien and two of his top former assistants.

According to a Boston Globe article the indictment of former probation commissioner John J. O’Brien and two of his top former assistants "describes 26 examples of politically influenced hiring decisions, including three involving Senate President Therese Murray. In one case, Murray allegedly sponsored the son of a court official for a probation job, helping him to beat out more qualified candidates."

In all three cases, federal prosecutors argue, Murray’s support helped less qualified candidates get jobs at the expense of the best candidates.

The indictment does not accuse the Senate president of a crime, but the incidents are cited as evidence of a “scheme to defraud” the public by O’Brien and his two deputies. Prosecutors say the trio were currying favor with Murray to increase their budget and their own status.

"My office receives many requests for assistance each year, including requests for public, private and institutional referrals," Murray said in a statement released Friday. "But we have no control over any hiring process and the indictment does not suggest that I was aware of any fraudulent conduct within the probation department. Indeed, when I did learn about what was going on in probation, we led a forceful and thorough overhaul of the department’s hiring practices last year to insure the highest degree of transparency possible. For as long as I've been in the Senate, both as a member and a leader, I have sought to control probation department spending while ensuring its public safety role is protected. We are always open to further improvements and will study today's indictments to see if additional legislative action is necessary."