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Nov 19, 2008 7:46 pm US/Eastern
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson Resigns Amid Bribery Charges
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Senator Dianne Wilkerson was seen leaving her office Monday night.
WBZ
State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has resigned, three weeks after the FBI released photographs of her allegedly stuffing bribe money under her sweater.
Read Wilkerson's Handwritten Letter
Wilkerson spent part of Wednesday at her State House office packing.
She issued a statement saying she would have no further comment.
Senate President Therese Murray announced the resignation in chambers just after noon.
"This has been a trying time for the Senate, but this chamber and its members have stood too long, and served too well, to be shaken by the actions of any individual," she said.
"And though one person may cast a temporary shadow, we are too strong, too determined and too righteous as a collective body to allow any doubt to linger."
"Today, Dianne Wilkerson has made the right decision."
"I don't know if we will ever hear an apology from those who should offer one … I hope we do someday."
On Tuesday, Wilkerson was federally indicted on eight counts of attempted extortion.
Read the indictment
Wilkerson was arrested in late October, accused of taking cash payments between June 2007 and October 2008. The indictment also seeks to regain the more than $23,500 in payments allegedly made to the Boston Democrat by undercover agents and a cooperating witness during the 18-month investigation.
If convicted, Wilkerson faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the eight charges.
Wilkerson, who is free on a $50,000 unsecured bond, has said there is "more to this story."
She lost her re-election bid in the September primary to fellow Democrat Sonia Chang-Diaz.
Gov. Deval Patrick, who supported Wilkerson in the Democratic primary she lost, said he wasn't surprised by her decision Wednesday.
"I think the time is here. There is a cloud over the whole Legislature on account of these charges and others," Patrick said as he left his office.
"Still, on a human level, it's sad and deeply personally disappointing."
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