A few weeks ago, former Selectman Frank (Lefty) Pignone attacked my ethics, integrity and character in a number of statements on an internet social media site. Although free speech protects ones right to criticize a person’s positions and views, it does not give a person the right to deliberately misrepresent and lie about the facts with the intention of slandering another person. I cannot let this slander stand without publicly responding I care too much about my integrity and character.
Mr. Pignone stated that I violated the campaign finance law by accepting a $100 contribution from both Mr. Vallarelli and Mr. Depinto as indicated in my report. Ms. Sarah Harty, Deputy General Council, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance told me in writing that those contributions “comply with the campaign finance law.” Mr. Pignone also wrote that I violated the state conflicts of interest laws by accepting those donations. Again, Mr. Paul M. Murray, Special Investigator from the State Ethics commission, has told me in writing that there was no violation of the State’s conflict of interest laws.
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What is most disturbing about these allegations is that as a former Selectman who had run for office it has to be assumed that he knew this was not a violation, and he deliberately lied to slander my name. As further evidence that he was intentionally trying to slander me, Mr. Pignone’s candidate received a larger donation from Selectman Boussy than Mr. Dipento’s and Mr. Vallarelli’s contributions to me combined. If Mr. Pignone was just interested in pointing out political wrongdoings, why wasn’t that information included in his posting?
