State Treasurer Steve Grossman is demanding that his Democratic gubernatorial primary rival Martha Coakley return thousands in campaign donations from lobbyists and their families at The Brennan Group, a wired firm that avoided possible prosecution by settling with the attorney general over allegations it charged illegal fees to a children’s hospital.
“Take a stand,” Grossman told the Herald yesterday. “You have to show some toughness when people thumb their noses at the law. … This deal shows extremely poor judgment on her part, particularly for a person who wants to be governor. This is Beacon Hill at its worst, and I think voters will see it that way.”
Although no Brennan Group staffers have contributed to Coakley’s gubernatorial campaign, records show lobbyists and their spouses at the firm have contributed at least $4,700 to her AG and Senate campaigns since 2006.
All told, Coakley has taken some $19,650 in campaign contributions from lobbyists between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year, according to state records.
But she’s hardly alone. Baker has raked in $14,825, Grossman has taken in $5,300, and Democrat Donald Berwick reported $1,760 during the same period, all from lobbyists.
Yesterday’s Herald disclosed Coakley’s ties to the Brennan Group — which agreed to pay back $100,000 to Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton to settle the flap — and that the firm’s lawyer, Thomas R. Kiley, had contributed $500 to Coakley’s campaign just weeks before the settlement.
The campaign then told the Herald it was returning the money.
Coakley spokeswoman Bonnie McGilpin fired back at Grossman, saying he “should practice what he preaches and return the tens of thousands of dollars he’s raised from the liquor industry, which he oversees and regulates. But he won’t do that and instead will continue to launch desperate negative attacks.”
Coakley’s office again defended the decision to settle yesterday.
“This was the right action based on the facts and legal challenges, and resulted in $100,000 being returned back to the charity,” said AG spokesman Brad Puffer, adding that Coakley has taken action against more than 40 state employees since 2007 and brought more than 70 public corruption cases.
Earlier in the day, GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker also slammed Coakley. “I just think it’s a great example again of one-party government, one-party rule on Beacon Hill. All these people just know each other and they all play for the same team,” Baker said on Boston Herald Radio.
