Chuck Turner

Moot point? Supreme Judicial Court to consider Chuck Turner's ouster before he was sentenced for taking a bribe

adamg — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:02:20 +0000

The Supreme Judicial Court next week hears arguments from the lawyer for convicted felon Chuck Turner and the city of Boston on the way the city council ousted Turner after he was convicted in 2010 but before he was sentenced.

In Roxbury, out with the old, in with the new

adamg — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:15:11 +0000

Chuck Turner leaves (his complete farewell address); Tito Jackson enters.

Why the feds never got beyond Dianne Wilkerson and Chuck Turner

adamg — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:04:36 +0000

CommonWealth takes a look at Ron Wilburn's grand jury testimony (with transcript provided), discovers the Cooperating Witness proved unable to deliver the goods on anybody else involved in liquor-licensing issues in Boston and the feds, so far, have either failed to follow up or decided there just was no there there.

Speaking of Turner, he is not going silently into that prison term. On Thursday, the night before he's scheduled to show up for his federal incarceration, he'll be on a panel discussion at Northeastern titled Framing the Innocent.

Judge to Chuck Turner: You're being replaced

adamg — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:32:40 +0000

The Globe reports a federal judge has rejected ex-Councilor Turner's effort to block the Feb. 15 and March 15 elections to replace him.

Meanwhile, one of the candidates for the seat, the Stassenesque Roy Owens, has a platform that calls for fighting abortions and spending $500 billion (yes, billion) "to build facilities to deal with our emergency loss of life, while at the same time create jobs and saving lives," according to his answers on a survey by One in 3.

Outside the federal courthouse yesterday

adamg — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:56:24 +0000

This pro-Chuck Turner video makes the argument that Boston's just a racist hellhole, but does include US Attorney Carmen Ortiz's post-sentencing comments (starts around 2:20):

Turner gets three years

adamg — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:02:00 +0000

The Dorchester Reporter reports on Turner's sentence for accepting a bribe and then lying about it to the FBI.

That's only six months less than Dianne Wilkerson got for accepting more money after a career filled with criminal and disciplinary issues, but unlike Wilkerson, Turner didn't plead guilty and never expressed remorse.

He's scheduled to turn himself in March 25; his lawyers promised an appeal.

If it stands, the sentence will render Turner's suit to get his council job back moot, since state law calls for booting elected officials sentenced to prison.

City Councilor Mike Ross, who presided over Turner's expulsion hearing in December said in a statement:

This is a sad day for all of us. Chuck was a colleague of mine for a decade. My thoughts are with Chuck and his family as they process the sentence handed down this afternoon.

US Attorney's statement

Chuck Turner has a fan club across the river

adamg — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:01:39 +0000

The Herald reports on some "ragin' grannies" serenading the ex-city councilor in Cambridge:

City Council: Constitution doesn't guarantee Chuck Turner a seat

adamg — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:31:57 +0000

The Boston City Council says its vote to boot Chuck Turner doesn't violate his constitutional rights, so a federal judge should dismiss his lawsuit - which might become moot on Tuesday when he's sentenced on his federal corruption conviction.

Reports from last night's Roxbury city-council forum

adamg — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:53:29 +0000

Blackstonian reports from last night's forum for candidates seeking to replace Chuck Turner; also rates their performance and fact-checks some of their statements.

The Dorchester Reporter zeroes in on how the candidates feel about the legality of the City Council's vote to expel Turner.

Judge won't delay Chuck Turner's sentencing because one of his lawyers is out of the country

adamg — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:56:09 +0000

The federal judge who will sentence Chuck Turner for his bribery and perjury charges has denied a request to postpone sentencing until at least March.

In an order issued last week, Judge Douglas Woodlock said it's simply too late for Turner to request anything just because he disagrees with one lawyer and wants counsel from another - who just happens to be on an extended overseas stay. Turner is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 25 on his bribery and perjury convictions.

Chuck Turner and home rule

adamg — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:44:59 +0000

The Globe reports a federal judge isn't so sure the Boston City Council had the authority to boot Chuck Turner over his federal bribery/perjury convictions and wants the city to convince him by Friday - three days before another federal judge is scheduled to sentence Turner, which could make the whole thing moot if that judge puts Turner in prison, since state law requires the unseating of imprisoned officials.

Chuck Turner sues to get his job back

adamg — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:01:58 +0000

As promised/threatened, convicted ex-city Councilor Chuck Turner has filed a federal lawsuit demanding he be allowed back into the City Council chambers.

In his suit, co-filed with several constituents yesterday in US District Court in Boston, Turner charges the council violated his and their Constitutional rights against punishments enacted after the fact - in Turner's case, a council rule allowing for ousters that was passed after his indictment - and that the move leaves all of District 7 without an elected representative. Somewhat ironically for a man who once proposed gutting the First Amendment, Turner also charges the council violated his First Amendment rights.

Chuck Turner vows lawsuit as Council sets dates for elections to replace him

adamg — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:03:14 +0000

The City Council set Feb.15 and March 15 as the dates for the preliminary and final elections to replace ousted felon Chuck Turner.

Only Turner ally Charles Yancey voted against the measure. Yancey read a letter from Turner's lawyer, threatening a federal lawsuit because, he said, the whole process of ejecting Turner and setting the dates would require an act of the state legislature and in the meantime disenfranchises District 7 voters. Council President Mike Ross rejected that theory, said the city charter lets the council toss members for good reasons and set dates for special elections to replace members. He then called for a vote on the dates, which passed 11-1.

Who is more likely to run for Chuck Turner's seat and who would win it?

Williams35 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:25:19 +0000

It's now ex-Councilor Turner

adamg — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:20:44 +0000

Councilor Pressley explains what Turner has meant to the city and to her, before turning to him to say she would vote to expel him.

The City Council voted today to expel District 7 Councilor and convicted felon Chuck Turner, effective Dec. 3. Only Councilor Charles Yancey voted against expulsion.

Two of Turner's past supporters, Felix Arroyo and Ayanna Pressley, joined nine other councilors in voting to eject Turner. Both had tears in their eyes as they explained their votes. Both of them praised Turner for his tireless work, both said they loved him - but both said the federal conviction left them no choice. Pressley said she was heartsick and was "deeply troubled" by the way the feds went after Turner; Arroyo, who once worked for Turner, said everybody has made mistakes and regretted the vote was a black-and-white issue rather than something that could be seen in shades of gray.

Turner himself maintained his innocence and said only councilors who really felt they were morally more able than him to serve should vote for expulsion - the first time the council has ever considered ejecting a member.