Sheriff Steven Tompkins ought to have taken a stand in opposition to Donald Trump.
That method the indicted sheriff of Suffolk County may have made himself a sufferer of Trump’s assault on democracy the way in which fellow Massachusetts Democrat politicians do.
Tompkins, 67, may have completed so following his arraignment final week on federal extortion costs at a press convention exterior the Moakley Federal Courthouse.
Whereas it might have been a Hail Mary to make sure, he had nothing to lose, significantly as he’s dealing with critical prion time if discovered responsible.
He may have gone after Trump for singling him out the way in which Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has, blasting Trump over earmarking Boston for monetary punishment for being a sanctuary metropolis. Tompkins is the sheriff of that sanctuary metropolis.
Tompkins, a lifelong Democrat, was initially appointed sheriff by Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick in 2013. He was a marketing campaign advisor to Trump hater Sen. Elizabeth Warren and a robust supporter of fellow anti-Trumpers Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Mayor Wu.
He clearly had the political credentials to go after Trump.
The veteran sheriff pleaded not responsible to costs that he allegedly pressured a hashish firm for inventory within the firm earlier than it was made public. He later allegedly obtained his $50,000 funding again after the inventory went south.
The investigation was performed by the workplace of U.S. Lawyer Leah Foley.
And whereas Foley is a non-partisan profession prosecutor, (“I’m a prosecutor, not a politician”), a case might be made that she was appointed to her submit by the Trump administration.
Reality be recognized, Foley would go after corrupt Republican workplace holders if there have been any round within the one-party state of Massachusetts.
All statewide places of work from governor on down are held by Democrats as are all of the state’s 9 congressional seats. Each the state Home and Senate are overwhelmingly managed by Democrats, and of the 14 sheriffs in Massachusetts solely two are Republicans.
Whereas Tompkins remained silent following his arraignment, Martin Weinberg, his legal professional, mentioned “errors” had been made and that Tompkins was charged “with a criminal offense he didn’t commit.”
Foley earlier mentioned Tompkins alleged actions had been “an affront” to voters and taxpayers.” She mentioned her workplace “will proceed to analyze and prosecute anybody who makes use of their place of belief and energy for their very own achieve.”
One of many “errors” Tompkins might have made was not utilizing Trump as a distraction, the way in which Wu, Healey and Lawyer Common Andrea Campbell are doing.
In any case, when Tompkins is tried it could be earlier than a sympathetic Obama federal decide and a Boston jury made up of Trump haters.
No matter Trump is doing, together with a crackdown on huge metropolis crime, the Democrats are in opposition to it.
And if Campbell weren’t submitting swimsuit in opposition to Trump each different week, as a substitute of preventing crime, you wouldn’t know that Campbell, the state’s “chief regulation enforcement officer” even existed.
Even hapless Josh Kraft, Wu’s predominant opponent for re-election, has gotten onto the anti-Trump bandwagon with a brand new tv advert during which he calls Trump “unhinged.”
The one unhinged factor round is Kraft’s marketing campaign, which is making his political consultants wealthy. The extra they prop him up the extra he sinks within the polls.
And the extra Mayor Wu poses as a daughter of the American Revolution defending town in opposition to the tyranny of Donald Trump, the much less time she is pressured to speak about crime, as an illustration, within the “most secure’ huge metropolis within the nation. What a joke.
It’s so “protected” that Wu wouldn’t dare stroll unattended by Boston Frequent at night time. Neither would Kraft. Or anyone else.
Tompkins, being armed, might need tried it.
However it’s too late for that, and for the whole lot else.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas may be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
