In the past two years, a few Cape Cod politicians have been caught breaking the law:
- Chris Flanagan: State Representative Chris Flanagan was fined for campaign finance violations related to the 2022 election. He created a fictitious person, “Jeanne Louise,” to obscure the true source of funds for a misleading campaign mailer. Flanagan admitted to the wrongdoing and paid fines as part of the resolution (CommonWealth Beacon) (Cape and Islands).
- Robert J. Galibois: The Cape and Islands District Attorney, Robert J. Galibois, was fined $5,000 for violating the conflict of interest law. Despite this violation, he continues to serve in his position as DA (Hyannis News).
These incidents highlight issues of integrity and accountability among elected officials. The response to such violations can vary based on the severity of the offense, public and political pressure, and the legal frameworks governing the removal or discipline of public officials.
In Massachusetts, citizens do not have the authority to recall state representatives. The state constitution and laws do not provide a recall process for state legislators. If a state representative is believed to be corrupt and refuses to resign, the available courses of action typically include:
- Legislative Action: The state legislature can take action, such as expulsion, if there is sufficient evidence of misconduct.
- Criminal Proceedings: If the representative is involved in criminal activities, law enforcement and judicial processes can address the issue.
- Elections: Citizens can vote against the representative in the next election cycle to remove them from office.
For immediate removal, the legislature’s internal disciplinary processes or legal actions are the primary methods.
“It is important for our friends, neighbors and constituents to remember that “not complying the law” and “breaking the law” are different words.”