Ten O'Clock News; Bulger vs. Dershowitz on Mahoney

The lawyer Paul Mahoney has served as the Senate president's top aide since 1983. He's like family and the senator and three of the senator's sons were on hand today as Mahoney presented his witnesses that type of a person that is needed in the district courts and as a commonwealth hearing and understanding people. There wasn't one occasion that I can recall during that time where any question was ever raised. And I know that he was highly regarded by every assistant in the office and I knew him to be a splendid individual. And he's performed well there. Three years is a Suffolk County prosecutor 10 years in private practice. An aide to Governor King as well. But if there was ever a question of who Paul Mahoney's biggest sponsor is it was quickly put to rest. Over the years I have accumulated various photos and when they can do so. Coming down very high on my relatives and my friends and pointing to attorneys Alan Dershowitz and Harvey silver of late

Bulger lashed out at the would be critics of Paul Mahoney calling him a crafty manipulative and vindictive. They are reckless and they have no constraints upon look at contempt in my view. I hope I'm making myself clear. Alan Dershowitz lawyer Professor columnist and celebrity with a reputation for self-promotion had said he would raise questions about Molly that need to be answered questions about possible prosecutorial misconduct while Mahoney was a Suffolk County assistant district attorney. Questions about ethnic bias and questions about whether Mahoney was involved in spreading false rumors about attorney Harvey silver of late but the history of today's battle as far as the Senate president is concerned is the story of 75 State Street. In the controversial civil suit silver glade and Dershowitz represented real estate developer Harold Brown whose allegations of

extortion against the business associate of Senator Bulger raised questions about Bulger's own financial transactions. When it came time to testify today Dershowitz tried to create the context. Senator Lugar was a target. That just allowed you going to be subjected to here. The two biggest liars in Massachusetts. Boy. The pressure you know on common Anyone can be plain to me. Despite the pleas of presiding councillor Chris Scientologist near the senator continued to interrupt the testimony reporters couldn't remember such an outburst from the senator who usually wields the gavel. Let's be very clear about it. The investigation was directed at an accusation that Senator Bulger had committed a serious felony namely had accepted a $250000 Ferrari indirectly through another attorney. I don't care whether you listen to the

fans. There's never anybody who's made such an accusation against me except her silver plate and this is not Mr. Mahoney today this is the people of the state of Massachusetts his day this is not Senator Bulger today but the councilors displayed their anger with Dershowitz. Mr. Chairman. This is guys. That's only happy 7 5 0 0. 0 nominee Paul Mahoney looked on from the side rang his wife behind him saying he only knew what he had read in the papers Dershowitz went on under often hostile questions telling the counselors what the issues should be. He wrote a statement Mahoney allegedly made to a reporter covering 75 State Street and the statement was to the effect that since when does a man with a name like Neal play instead of men with names like Boulder and Mahoney.

Dershowitz also pointed to news reports that Mahoney applied for but was not nominated for a judgeship back in 1982 and he was opposed by former Suffolk attorney Garrard Bernard the man he worked for. Perhaps a more reasonable explanation is that Mr. Mahoney did not apply for a judgeship until Mr. Garratt Berg was unavailable to specify what these charges particularly were. Yeah and I think it is crucially important that this point be investigated. Again Dershowitz admitted having no firsthand knowledge and knowing no more than he read in the papers and finally late in the day Paul Mahoney had a chance to speak for himself. He denied the printed allegations and accusations. He said he was never told of any problems in the DA's office. So I don't know where that story came from Mike. I can say it's categorically not true. Supervisors at the DA's office have told WGBH that Moni was an excellent prosecutor with an excellent record. Mahoney also denied ever making prejudiced or anti-Semitic remarks.

They suggested prejudice does not exist in me now and it did not then and never has. If I have any bias in me it would be with my loyalty to the Senate and the Senate president. This is clearly not a vote in the council against Mahoney. But by using today's occasion to attack his own so-called enemies and by proclaiming at Mahoney's virtue to have the same enemies Senator Bulger has clearly overshadowed the nominee and whatever his qualifications are the future judge Mahoney is in danger of carrying the stamp that it was Senator Ballinger who put him where he is today for the 10 o'clock news. I'm David wary.