'Shocked and saddened'

Deep in the 32-page FBI affidavit that details the alleged bribes that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson accepted in exchange for wielding her political clout to benefit would-be nightclub owners and developers looking to purchase state land, Wilkerson is alleged to have made this statement: "I am a firm believer in the notion that you can do good and do well at the same time."

Indeed, at the same time Wilkerson was earning plaudits from the LGBT community, the governor and other elected officials for shepherding a bill to repeal to repeal the 1913 law through the Senate, she was also allegedly pledging her "110 % commitment" to passing legislation to enable a pair of undercover FBI agents posing as developers to bypass a competitive bidding process to buy state-owned land. According to the FBI, she accepted more than $15,000 in cash bribes to do so.

Needless to say, the contrast between Wilkerson's public face as a staunch, longtime champion of LGBT civil rights and the details of her alleged backroom dealings and brazen bribe-taking leading up to her arrest this week has understandably thrown LGBT advocates for a loop.

"We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the recent allegations," said MassEquality Executive Director Marc Solomon in an Oct. 29 statement. "MassEquality has supported Senator Wilkerson in the past for her strong leadership on LGBT issues, including her early, constant, and passionate support of marriage equality. We remain thankful for that leadership - but the charges, if true, are a clear breach of the public trust, and unacceptable behavior for any elected official."

MassEquality had been one of Wilkerson's strongest endorsers during her unsuccessful primary race against Sonia Chang Diaz in the 2nd Suffolk District Democratic primary in September. The organization decided to remain neutral in the race after Wilkerson announced that she would campaign in the general election as a write-in candidate in order to retain the seat she has held since 1993.

"I just think it's a tragedy considering the years of dedication to our issues that she has done, I feel really bad for her," said Tom Barbera, of the Gay and Lesbian Labor Activist Network (GALLAN) an organization that had endorsed her write-in campaign.
Likewise, Steve Iannaccone, president of Bay State Stonewall Democrats said his group was "saddened" by the news of Wilkerson's arrest on two corruption charges. "I've talked to a number of our board [members]about what happened and the charges and the arrest, and we certainly wish her well in whatever should become of this," said Iannaccone, whose organization, like MassEquality, endorsed Wilkerson in the primary but has remained neutral in the general election.

"We do acknowledge she has been a great supporter of ours in her career in the Senate, but until this is cleared up unfortunately she has got work to do in responding to the allegations," added Iannaccone.

Wilkerson was arrested on the morning of Oct. 28 by federal law enforcement for allegedly accepting $23,500 in bribes. Later that day, she appeared before Judge Timothy Hillman for an initial hearing at Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse. Wilkerson looked stoic throughout the 23-minute hearing and did not speak, except to her lawyer, Max Stern.

She was released on $50,000 unsecured bond with a number of conditions, among them the surrender of her passport, a prohibition on conferring with potential victims or witnesses in the case and a prohibition on concealing or destroying any documents relating to her campaign or personal finances or documents relevant to the current case against her. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 17 in Worcester.

At a press conference after Wilkerson's arrest, U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said that if Wilkerson is convicted of the charges she could face up to 40 years imprisonment, six years supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.

"Public service is a privilege, and voters and tax payers expect elected officials to do what's right for their constituents, not what's financially best for themselves," said Sullivan.

Wilkerson left the courthouse without comment following the hearing. Speaking to reporters afterward, Stern said that despite the allegations of the U.S. Attorney's office - which included photographic evidence of Wilkerson allegedly accepting cash bribes in several restaurants on Beacon Hill and in her district -"there's a context to every one of the interactions you've been told about. There's something that happens before, there's something that happens after that has not been included in what you've been shown.

"You will learn that when there is a trial," he added, "a trial to which Sen. Wilkerson is entitled to."

In a statement released on Oct. 29 Wilkerson vowed to press on with her sticker re-election campaign, which she mounted soon after a recount of a handful of precincts in the 2nd Suffolk District failed to turn the primary race in her favor. "While there is great curiosity about the particulars of my case I am not at liberty to discuss them for obvious reasons," the statement read in part. "For those of you who must be thinking, 'There has to be more to this story,' of course there is. But it is not a story that I am able or willing to lay out in the press."

Wilkerson also accused U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, a Republican, of playing politics by bringing the charges to light one week before the general election.

"In one fell swoop, and even before an indictment has been returned, he's sought to imperil my re-election campaign, and has set much of the state's Democratic Leadership back on its heels," said Wilkerson in her statement. "He brought this issue forward at this time knowing full well that I would never have an opportunity to have my day in court prior to November 4."

"I am grateful for and humbled by the support I continue to receive, and ask that voters continue to stick by me on November 4," she concluded.

The affidavit prepared by FBI Special Agent Krista L. Corr lays out in great detail the allegations against Wilkerson. She is accused of allegedly accepting eight cash bribes between June 2007 and October 2008 in sums ranging from $500 and $10,000. According to the affidavit, in addition to allegedly accepting bribes from the undercover agents for the land deal, Wilkerson also allegedly accepted bribes from prospective nightclub owners to secure a liquor license from the Boston Licensing Board. The affidavit outlines the ways in which Wilkerson allegedly used the power of her office and her relationships with other elected officials on behalf of the individuals who gave her bribes.

Sullivan's office, working with the Boston Police and the FBI launched an investigation of Wilkerson in March 2007 in response to an allegation by a citizen who believed that Wilkerson was improperly accepting cash payments for some of her public duties.

The arrest was the latest in a string of personal and professional financial improprieties that have tarnished Wilkerson's political career, including pleading guilty to tax evasion in the 1990s and a $10,000 settlement in August with the attorney general office for campaign finance improprieties.

But since her election to the state Senate in 1992, Wilkerson, who first came to local prominence as an attorney for the NAACP, has been one the LGBT community's strongest allies in the legislature. Among the first pieces of legislation she filed was a domestic partnership bill; in 2004 her moving speech in favor of marriage equality, in which she noted the parallels of the LGBT civil rights movement to the black civil rights movement, captured national attention. Earlier this year, in addition to shepherding the 1913 repeal through the Senate, she also was instrumental in securing state funds for LGBT youth and elder service programs. More recently, Wilkerson attended the Human Rights Campaign's annual New England Dinner on Oct. 25 with openly lesbian Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, a longtime friend.

In a statement issued by her office the day after Wilkerson's arrest, Simmons said she would "closely monitor" the events surrounding Wilkerson as they unfold.

"The Mayor is also mindful of this country's legal philosophy that maintains a person is innocent until proven otherwise," the statement read. "Her thoughts are with Senator Wilkerson and her family, as well as with the people of the 2nd Suffolk District whom Sen. Wilkerson has represented for 15 years. Due to the legal nature of this matter, Mayor Simmons shall withhold further public comment at this time. "

Some who have been vocal supporters of Wilkerson in the past were less willing to share their reactions to news of her arrest when contacted by Bay Windows. Dale Mitchell, a founder of the LGBT Aging Project who had spoken out strongly in support of Wilkerson when she announced her sticker campaign last month, declined to comment for this story. Likewise, Jeff Ross, an openly gay attorney who has done volunteer media relations for Wilkerson's campaign said he had "no reaction" to the news when contacted by phone. "I have nothing to say," said Ross.

Chang-Diaz, a strong supporter of the LGBT rights who was the beneficiary of a gay fundraiser in Boston's South End on Oct. 27, also expressed sadness at the news of Wilkerson's arrest.

"Whenever the public's trust is violated, it's something that hurts the whole community and people's willingness to participate in politics," she said in an Oct. 28 statement.

"It's important to remember that the legal proceedings will continue, and like everyone else, Senator Wilkerson deserves a fair trial based on the facts, not a rush to judgment."

Contributing writers Rachel Kossman and Catherine Williams contributed to this report.