Sal DiMasi Moved To Federal Prison In NYC
BOSTON (CBS) - Federal prison in Brooklyn, New York: Sal DiMasi's temporary new home. The former House Speaker is on the move just two months into his eight year sentence.
The move comes while the U.S. Attorney is investigating the hiring scandal at the Probation Department.
Is there a connection?
WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson reports
The U.S. Attorney's Office has no comment on the highly secretive proceedings.
We asked former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, about the process. Sullivan has no involvement with the current investigation, but helped us understand .
Sullivan says, "If Sal DiMasi had some information that the government thought to be potentially useful, I would not be surprised if they did, at a minimum, try to interview him, or secondly try to get him before a Grand Jury."
DiMasi was named in the scathing Ware Report as having a high success rate placing or promoting candidates in the Probation Department.
Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan says prosecutors could give DiMasi immunity, or make a deal in exchange for his testimony.
Under federal rules the court may reduce a sentence if the defendant, after sentencing, provided substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person.
Sullivan says if there was any kind of deal, it wouldn't go before a judge until after a trial was complete: "Because part of the substantial assistance for most defendants is that you have to testify, to provide that testimony before a jury, so the value of the substantial assistance comes at a later time."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports
Podcast
Life for DiMasi is drastically different from his days as one of the most powerful politicians in the state.
Sullivan says, "Considering Ware's report, it wouldn't be surprising to me if they (prosecutors) had an interest in speaking to Sal DiMasi. The question is whether Sal DiMasi has an interest in speaking with the Government. That's the $64,000 question."
