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Therese Murray Says Job Referrals Are Routine

BOSTON (AP) — Senate President Therese Murray says she never made any phone calls on behalf of applicants seeking jobs with the Massachusetts Probation Department.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.

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Murray was among several current or past lawmakers referenced in a federal indictment last week charging three former probation officials with rigging the agency's hiring process to favor candidates sponsored by powerful lawmakers and other influential people.

No legislators were charged.

The indictment said several job candidates sponsored by the Senate president were hired over more qualified applicants.

Murray said Monday that her constituent office receives "scores and scores" of routine requests for job references. She said she personally knew some of the people referred by her office to the probation department, but not others, and did not directly intervene on their behalf.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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