November 21, 2008 - 13:11

Feeney ‘saddened’ by Turner arrest, strips committee assignments

Reacting to news of City Councilor Chuck Turner's arrest, Boston City Council President Maureen Feeney said Friday that she has stripped Turner of his committee assignments and has called a meeting on Monday to discuss further action with the council.

Turner was arrested for allegedly accepting a $1,000 bribe to help a nightclub obtain a liquor license. Turner, a Roxbury member of the Green-Rainbow Party, is the second elected official to be arrested as a result of the FBI investigation; former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was arrested at the end of October for allegedly taking $23,500 in bribes.

"I am deeply saddened by the news this morning," Feeney, a Dorchester Democrat, said. "These charges are disturbing and shake an already fragile public trust in elected leaders."

Feeney went on to say she has stripped Turner of all of his committee assignments, including his chairmanship of committees on education and human rights.

"If these charges prove true," she said, "I will not let the actions of one member cast a dark cloud over this entire body."

The City Council, Feeney said, will meet Monday at 3 p.m. to discuss further action.

"I remain outraged at the recent disgrace brought to public service," Feeney said. "The public is right to expect more from its elected leaders.  We must -- and we will -- work hard to restore their confidence."

Jeremy P. Jacobs is a PolitickerMA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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