DiMasi and an associate were found guilty in a scheme to steer two state contracts worth $17.5 million to a software firm in exchange for payments.
Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is seen outside federal court in Boston last month.This is an updated version of a story posted at 12:55 this afternoon.
BOSTON — Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said Wednesday federal prosecutors didn't prove their corruption case against him and he'll appeal his conviction.
DiMasi and an associate were found guilty in a scheme to steer two state contracts worth $17.5 million to a software firm in exchange for payments. Defense attorneys said the payments were legitimate.
DiMasi said outside court he did the best he could as a legislator.
He was convicted of conspiracy, extortion and fraud. Lobbyist Richard McDonough also was convicted of conspiracy and fraud. Accountant Richard Vitale was acquitted.
DiMasi and McDonough are free until Aug. 18 sentencing, but can't leave New England.
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said she'll seek "significant jail time." The most serious counts carry a maximum 20 years.
Immediately after the verdict was read, a visibly distraught DiMasi turned to hug his crying wife and stepdaughter.
DiMasi, a Democrat, who resigned in January 2009, was the third consecutive House Speaker to leave office under an ethics cloud.
Prosecutors said DiMasi used his position as one of the state’s most powerful politicians to assure that the Cognos firm received the software contracts. In exchange, prosecutors said DiMasi received $65,000 in payments funneled through a law associate, while McDonough and Vitale received hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments disguised as lobbying or consulting fees.
Defense attorneys said the payments were legitimate and were not made in exchange for official actions by DiMasi, a key element of the federal “theft of honest services” statute which has faced recent court challenges.
Vitale’s attorney Martin Weinberg said it was a bittersweet outcome for his client, an “enormously decent” man, because the three men are good friends.
Defense attorneys are certain to appeal the verdicts, and the appeals process could be lengthy. One possible avenue of appeal could be to revisit the federal “theft of honest services” statute, which has been criticized as overly broad by some defense attorneys.
More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.