Oct 29, 2008 5:23 pm US/Eastern
Wilkerson Continues Campaign Despite Arrest
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office as evidence. Prosecutors say the photo was taken while Dianne Wilkerson received a cash bribe from an undercover agent.
U.S. Attorney's Office
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Given that bribery allegations against Sen. Dianne Wilkerson have not been proven in court, do you think she should resign?
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A day after her arrest on federal corruption charges, State Senator Dianne Wilkerson said in a statement she will continue her re-election campaign.
Here is the complete text:
"I would like the voters of the 2nd Suffolk Senate District to know that I am staying the course of my campaign for re-election on November 4. Not only does this represent the biggest challenge in my personal and political life, but it will test to the limit the notion of innocent until proven guilty.
While there is great curiosity about the particulars of my case I am not at liberty to discuss them for obvious reasons. For those of you who must be thinking 'there has to be more to this story', of course there is. But it is not a story that I am able or willing to lay out in the press.
From a purely political perspective, it seems a lot of people- including myself- have seriously underestimated US Atty. Sullivan's political calculus.
In one fell swoop, and even before an indictment has been returned, he's sought to imperil my re-election campaign, and has set much of the state's Democratic Leadership back on its heels. He brought this issue forward at this time knowing full well that I would never have an opportunity to have my day in court prior to November 4.
I am grateful for and humbled by the support I continue to receive, and ask that voters continue to stick by me on November 4." WBZ contact Sullivan's office after Wilkerson released her statement. He had no comment.
Wilkerson is
charged with taking $23,000 in bribes from undercover agents posing as businessmen. Tuesday's arrest was the result of an 18 month FBI investigation.
She has served in the state senate since 1993, when she became the first African American woman elected to that post.
She was released on $50,000 bail Tuesday.
Political leaders including Governor Deval Patrick, who has been a vocal Wilkerson supporter in the past,
called for the senator to resign if the allegations are true.
She is currently waging a write-in campaign to retain her senate seat, after losing a close Democratic primary election.
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