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Mass. House will conduct its own investigation into rep facing fraud charges
The House Committee on Ethics will conduct an investigation into state Rep. Christopher Flanagan “at the conclusion of the judicial proceedings,” its chair said.
The head of the Massachusetts House Committee on Ethics announced Monday the panel will investigate federally indicted state Rep. Christopher Flanagan once his criminal case wraps — a move that opens the Cape Cod lawmaker to possible sanctions on Beacon Hill.
Flanagan, a second-term Democrat from Dennis, faced calls for his resignation last week after he was arrested Friday on five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records. Federal prosecutors allege the 37-year-old stole $36,000 from his former employer, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, and used the money to cover campaign expenses, credit card bills, appliances, clothing, and psychic services.
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Flanagan pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday and was released on certain conditions, including orders to surrender his passport and report to a probation officer.
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State Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, who chairs the House Committee on Ethics, said in a statement the committee will conduct an investigation into Flanagan “at the conclusion of the judicial proceedings.”
The panel is tasked with looking into any alleged rule violations or questions of conduct by House members and can recommend a representative be reprimanded, censured, expelled, or removed from a committee or position of authority, per House rules.
“Consistent with past practices, the Committee will wait for the judicial process to play out to avoid any possible disruption or obstruction to the ongoing criminal proceedings,” Lipper-Garabedian explained.
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House rules stipulate that the committee’s proceedings are confidential, but if a majority of members finds an alleged violation has merit, the committee will then file a public report with the House clerk.
Flanagan, who in 2022 flipped a seat long held by Republicans, won a second term back in November. The state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance fined Flanagan and his campaign committee $15,000 last year after he created the alias “Jeanne Louise” to conceal his role in paying for a 2022 campaign mailer that ostensibly came from the group “Conservatives for Dennis.”
Separately, Flanagan was having money troubles as early as the fall of 2021, according to federal prosecutors. They allege a $10,000 deposit Flanagan made to his campaign account in January 2023 included funds stolen from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association, noting his personal account balance was just $42.28 one week prior.
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