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Rachael Rollins, former U.S. Attorney who resigned amid ethics scandal, reportedly running again for Suffolk DA

Rollins previously served as Suffolk County’ District Attorney from 2019 to 2021, when she was appointed to be U.S. Attorney.

Former Suffolk DA and U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins filed to run again for her former position Wednesday. Taylor Coester/The Boston Globe

By Darin Zullo

April 8, 2026

1 minute to read

Rachael Rollins is reportedly running to again be elected Suffolk County District Attorney.

Rollins pulled nomination papers Wednesday to run for her former job, a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin told The Boston Globe. So far, she faces a field consisting of current DA Kevin Hayden, who is running for reelection, and attorney Linda Champion, who filed paperwork to run last week.

The former DA served Suffolk from January 2019 to December 2021, when she was confirmed by the Senate to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts under former president Joe Biden.

However, Rollins resigned in May 2023 amid ethics concerns after the Justice Department led a monthslong probe. The investigation’s internal watchdog reported that Rollins had meddled in the race for her successor by telling the media that Hayden was under federal investigation.

Investigators also found that she had helped Hayden’s rival, Ricardo Arroyo, by “providing him campaign advice and direction and coordinating with Arroyo on activities to help his campaign.” When Arroyo lost the primary election, she leaked sensitive department information in an effort to sabotage Hayden’s campaign.

In March 2024, Rollins was suspended from practicing law in Massachusetts.

Galvin’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Rollins was not available to speak with Boston.com by telephone.