Former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, Rachael Rollins, has had her law license suspended, less than a year after resigning from her position amid a lengthy Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation. Court documents reveal that Rollins, who was nominated by President Biden, had her license suspended effective February 20 due to nonpayment of registration fees. This development comes after the DOJ investigation centered on Rollins’ alleged unethical misconduct related to political activities in favor of the Democratic Party.
Rollins, who was previously praised by liberal media outlets and Democrats in Congress for her approach to crime in the Boston area, was nominated by President Biden to become the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts. The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board defended her nomination, stating that Rollins had been among Biden’s smartest appointments and that her policies were a threat to the Republican narrative about Democrats and crime.
However, the DOJ’s investigation found that Rollins unethically attended a partisan Biden fundraiser and “falsely testified under oath” about leaking sensitive DOJ information to the press in an effort to help a Democrat win elected office. The report released by Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s office highlighted Rollins’ misconduct, including her assistance to Ricardo Arroyo during his Democratic primary campaign for Suffolk D.A. She provided advice on handling sexual assault allegations against Arroyo and shared negative information about his challenger, Kevin Hayden, with media outlets.
The DOJ also concluded that Rollins had falsely testified under oath during her interview, denying that she was the source of nonpublic, sensitive DOJ information provided to a Herald reporter about a possible Hayden criminal investigation. However, Rollins later admitted to being the source after producing relevant text messages as evidence.
It is worth noting that Rollins attended a Biden fundraiser the year prior, despite ethics advice against it. The fundraiser included an appearance by First Lady Jill Biden. These findings raise serious concerns about Rollins’ integrity and her willingness to compromise the justice system for political gain.
Massachusetts Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren previously described Rollins as a “great choice for U.S. Attorney” and expressed their pride in recommending her to the Biden administration. However, their support for Rollins now appears misplaced in light of the DOJ’s findings.
This latest development raises questions about the vetting process for Biden’s nominees and the judgment of those who supported Rollins’ nomination. It also highlights the importance of holding government officials accountable for their actions, regardless of their party affiliation.
Digital has reached out to Rollins, Markey, Warren, and The Los Angeles Times for comment on these findings. As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial to ensure transparency and integrity within the justice system and to hold those responsible for unethical conduct accountable.
