Turner Takes Aim at Pols and Press; Feeney Cancels Council Meeting

BOSTON/Government Center - Saying he would not sit back silently and allow his reputation to be ruined by the “employees of rich media corporation owners ” Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner defended himself today in the aftermath of his arrest by the F.B.I. Turner was arrested at his office in City Hall on Friday and brought to federal district court in Worcester where he was arraigned on charges of extortion and lying to a federal agent. The charges stem from an ongoing federal investigation into bribes and influence peddling involving a Roxbury nightclub. Dianne Wilkerson also charged in the case resigned her seat in the state Senate earlier this month. Speaking in front of City Hall surrounded by supporters holding “Re-elect Chuck Turner” signs and facing cameras and microphones from more than a dozen TV radio and print news sources the Roxbury district councilor lambasted media outlets for “managing to silence anybody who is willing to stand up and speak the truth about oppression in this city in this state and in this nation.” He told the assembled crowd – more than two hundred people – that he knew he was taking a risk in speaking out. He saved some of his strongest criticism for City Council President Maureen Feeney acknowledging her for postponing a special session of the council she had called for this afternoon but admonishing her for accusing his constituents of being “prepared to turn this session into something it is not.” Quoting from a statement issued by Feeney to the press this morning Turner read: “This body is not and will not become a stage for political theater.” “I would urge the press to go upstairs ” said Turner “and ask Council President Feeney ‘what did she mean?’ What was it that made it clear to her what did I do what did my supporters do to make her think that we were prepared to turn what I saw as an opportunity to defend my honor and integrity into a circus.” Following the rally and press conference Councilor Feeney declined to be interviewed by Open Media Boston. In her statement this morning she said she recognizes the need for due process to be followed and called upon the city attorney to evaluate the role of the council in disciplining one of its members. Photos and audio by Jason Pramas. Gallery of unedited photos by Jason Pramas can be found here: http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm215/openmediaboston/11_24_08%20Turn... The interview below was recorded and conducted by Dave Goodman in the City Hall office of District 6 Councilor John Tobin on Monday Nov. 24 2008. Tobin was the only councilor to say publicly that he would not attend a proposed council meeting to discuss Chuck Turner's case. Bookmark/Search this post with: Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Newsvine Facebook Google Yahoo Technorati