BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The original indictments came out with no lawmakers names attached, but now the grand jury investigation into the scandal at the Probation Department is eyeing several local lawmakers, including House Speaker Robert DeLeo.
The grand jury investigation into the hiring practices at the probation department has shifted its attention to DeLeo. He is accused of giving Probation Department jobs to friends and relatives of lawmakers in exchange for votes to win the speaker seat.
The Boston Globe reports that a number of legislators were called to testify before a federal grand jury looking into the probation scandal.
One of the politicians called to testify is State Rep. John Rogers of Norwood. He ran against DeLeo for House speaker in 2009, but dropped out when he couldn't get enough support.
According to the report, investigators want to know if former probation commissioner John O'Brien helped DeLeo win his seat by getting jobs for friends and family of state representatives. In exchange, those who received the jobs were supposed to vote for DeLeo who took the House speaker role in 2009.
It is a violation for lawmakers to accept something of value in exchange for any official act.
DeLeo's camp released a statement denying the allegations saying, "There is no way any individual can honestly testify that jobs were traded for votes for speaker, because as the speaker has repeatedly stated, it did not happen."
Former probation commissioner O'Brien is already facing federal racketeering and conspiracy charges for allegedly rigging hiring practices at the Probation Department.
