Political Finance Office Finds Lt. Gov. May Have Violated State Law

The state agency that oversees campaign finance says it found evidence that Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and his political committee violated state law by accepting campaign contributions that were illegally raised by former Chelsea Housing Authority director Michael McLaughlin.

    Michael Sullivan, the director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, sent the findings in a Sept. 19, 2012, letter to Attorney General Martha Coakley.

    In the letter, Sullivan said there was evidence McLaughlin violated laws prohibiting political fundraising by public employees, and that in receiving the money, Murray and his committee also violated the law.

    A campaign spokesman for Murray said the lieutenant governor asked for the probe and is fully cooperating

    A spokesman for Coakley said the issues in the letter are under investigation.

    On Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged McLaughlin with falsely reporting his salary to the government. (Associated Press)