Baker Wants Ethics Probe Into Free Dry Cleaning For State Senator

Gov. Charlie Baker is calling on the State Ethics Commission to investigate an arrangement that let state Sen. Brian Joyce receive free dry cleaning from a local shop for more than a decade.

The Republican governor said on his monthly radio show on WGBH-FM Tuesday that the arrangement, first detailed by The Boston Globe, justifies what he called ``a pretty quick and pretty immediate review.''

According to the Globe, Joyce brought his suits, his family's clothes, and sometimes his aide's clothes to Woodlawn Cleaners after owner Jerry Richman offered to clean his clothes for free in 1997.

Joyce's attorneys say he received the service in exchange for free or reduced-price legal services he provided to Richman.

The Milton Democrat said in statement the legal services ``far exceeded any dry cleaning offered.''  (Associated Press)