More Testimony In Trial Of Probation Officials

An aide to Senate President Therese Murray has resumed her testimony in the federal trial of three former state probation officials who prosecutors say funneled jobs in the department to politically-connected applicants.

Francine Gannon, Murray's director of constituent services, said as part of her job she sometimes helped people seeking jobs as probation officers, including applicants referred by other lawmakers and public officials such as Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe.

Gannon on Monday recalled a ``cordial'' meeting with then-Probation Commissioner John O'Brien in 2008 in which she gave him a list of several people interested in jobs.

Under cross-examination by defense attorneys, Gannon said she also routinely provided assistance to people looking for jobs in other areas of state government.

O'Brien and deputies Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke face charges of racketeering, mail fraud and bribery.