BOSTON (CelebrityAccess) — Two members of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's administration are facing criminal charges after they allegedly extorted a festival company to hire union labor.
According to the Boston Globe, Federal authorities arrested Timothy Sullivan, the city’s acting director of intergovernmental relations, on charges of conspiracy and extortion. A seven-page indictment by a federal grand jury alleges that Sullivan colluded with the city’s tourism director, Kenneth Brissette, to withhold city permits from the Boston Calling music festival until it hired stagehands from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 11.
According to the U.S. attorney's office statement:
The [music festival production] company told Brissette and Sullivan that it had already entered into a contract with a non-union company and hired all of its labor. Nevertheless, Brissette and Sullivan allegedly insisted that half of the company’s labor force consist of union members, although they ultimately agreed that eight members of Local 11 would suffice. As a result of these City officials’ demands three days before the music festival the company entered into a contract with Local 11 for eight additional laborers and one foreman. Shortly thereafter, the City of Boston issued the necessary permits.
Brissette, 52, was indicted in May and has entered a not guilty plea in the case and Sullivan's attorney told WBUR that he intends to plead not guilty when he faces arraignment next week.
Both Brissette and Sullivan are on paid administrative leave. – Staff Writers
