Oct 30, 2008 11:04 pm US/Eastern
Defiant Wilkerson Says She Won't Quit Senate
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Dianne Wilkerson (file image)
WBZ
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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 defiant
state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson said Thursday night she will not resign her seat, calling the Senate's request that she step down "unreasonable."
"There are many moving parts to this situation and I'm extremely focused on processing all of the considerations at hand," Wilkerson said in a written statement.
The Senate voted unanimously Thursday afternoon on a motion asking Wilkerson to resign immediately. It was the first time the Senate had ever passed such a measure asking a member to quit.
The non-binding resolution also cited her past legal problems, which include a term of house arrest for failure to pay her income taxes.
Wilkerson also was stripped of her committee posts, including as chair of the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Here is a key part of the Senate resolution:
"In a letter to the Senate President dated October 30, 2008, Senator Dianne Wilkerson stated that she would abide by the decisions of the Senate; therefore be it Resolved that the membership of the Massachusetts Senate does hereby request that Senator Dianne Wilkerson resign immediately." 
Read: The Entire ResolutionWilkerson did not attend. In a letter, she wrote:
"Please excuse my absence today. I thought it in the best interest of the body that I not be present for the Senate Caucus.
I fully appreciate the difficult decision you have before you. I trust that you will act consistent with prior practice. I will respect whatever decision you make." Read: Wilkerson's LetterBut tonight she made clear she has no intention of going quickly.
"Surely the members of the state Senate could not have believed that such a monumental decision would be made within a few hours." she said. "A decision like this could be comforting to some, but could prove disastrous to others.
"A decision to leave this district without representation, even for 60 days, is one that cannot and should not be made in a matter of hours."
After being out of the public eye since Tuesday, Wilkerson was seen leaving her campaign headquarters Thursday night. She did not speak to reporters.
Senate President Therese Murray said members are upset about the "shadow of doubt" Wilkerson placed on them.
"I think if she values the integrity of the Senate, if she values her colleagues' work, she will go," said Murray.
If Wilkerson refuses to resign, the issue would be handed over to the Ethics Committee, which could then remove her.
Federal prosecutors have charged Wilkerson with accepting $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents posing as businessmen. She was arrested Tuesday.
Murray is among
several people who were reportedly subpoenaed by investigators.
At this point, Wilkerson is the only target of the investigation, and authorities only want to talk to those who dealt with her.
The charges, Murray said, are "an affront and are insulting to the Senate, and any implication that myself or others have been involved in the alleged wrongful conduct or backroom deals is simply wrong."
Gov. Deval Patrick released a statement backing the Senate's vote.
"On a bipartisan basis, the Senate today unanimously reaffirmed that elected officials should be held to the highest ethical standards," his statement read. "I support and respect their action."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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