Progressive pols in Boston have one-upped the notorious “do not prosecute” record enforced by former Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins. Their makes an attempt to defend disgraced former Metropolis Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson embody a “do not hold accountable” agenda.
Fernandes Anderson acquired the ball rolling, asking a federal choose to condemn her to a “significant amount” of neighborhood service as an alternative of jail as punishment for her public corruption conviction earlier this summer season, the Herald reported.
She pleaded responsible in Might to corruption fees tied to a kickback scheme federal authorities mentioned she carried out in a Metropolis Corridor rest room.
Lawyer Scott Lauer, the general public defender assigned to Fernandes Anderson, mentioned her “history and characteristics suggest that her offense was aberration that will not be repeated.”
The issue is, this isn’t Fernandes Anderson’s first rodeo.
After she was elected to the council in 2021, she employed her sister and son to Metropolis Council workers positions, awarding them each raises. Fernandes Anderson later admitted to violating the battle of curiosity regulation and agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.
Aberration?
“Ms. Fernandes Anderson is devastated to have disappointed those who placed their trust in her. Although she cannot fully repair this breach of trust, she has resolved to be accountable for it. Ms. Fernandes Anderson has accepted responsibility, tendered a guilty plea, and relinquished her seat on the council,” Lauer mentioned in a sentencing memorandum.
However Fernandes Anderson has a distinct definition of “accountable” than most individuals. Lauer requested Federal Choose Indira Talwani to impose a probationary sentence on Fernandes Anderson “with a requirement that she complete a significant amount of community service.”
And he mentioned she isn’t against paying restitution, however petitioned Choose Talwani to impose no fantastic “as she is unemployed and lacks the ability to pay.”
She’s unemployed due to her corruption scandal. With out it, she’d nonetheless be representing District 7.
In lots of locations, the plea to do neighborhood service as an alternative of jail (federal prosecutors have referred to as for her to serve a yr and a day) and keep away from paying restitution ($13,000, per the feds) can be thought-about outrageous.
However that is Boston.
Councilor Brian Worrell was one among a number of pols calling for leniency, saying: “What stands out most to me is her willingness to take responsibility and to grow.”
At-Giant Metropolis Councilor Julia Mejia requested Talwani to contemplate Fernandes Anderson’s “positive contributions.”
Metropolis Councilor Liz Breadon petitioned Talwani to condemn Fernandes Anderson to “at-home confinement rather than a custodial sentence.”
Two different Boston Democrats on Beacon Hill, Sen. Liz Miranda and Rep. Russell Holmes, additionally penned letters in assist.
Fernandes Anderson supporters level to her dedication to neighborhood and fairness, and compassion for susceptible populations in Boston.
However two issues may be true on the similar time. Fernandes Anderson might have earned the admiration of her District 7 constituents for her work on their behalf, and in addition dedicated wire fraud on high of an ethics violation.
That’s what makes the ex-councilor’s actions each galling and a tragedy. Due to what Fernandes Anderson did, those that voted for her will lose out.
Accountability isn’t only a buzzword, it means going through as much as one’s actions and absolutely accepting the implications.
