The blockbuster ethics probes leading to the downfall of U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins exposed the dark underbelly of the intersection of politics and media and the danger of using anonymous sources with a personal vendetta.
The reports from the Office of Special Counsel and Department of Justice Inspector General showcased the sleazy side of relations between power players — who ruthlessly use each other to advance their self interests.
“No mercy. Finish him,” Rollins demanded to Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo in one of their text exchanges about Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, whose campaign they were trying to torpedo.
While such attitudes may be more common than many think, the public should rightly be horrified by the abuse of power shown by Arroyo and Rollins, and the deep involvement of the media.
The two conspired – with the Boston Globe as willing accomplice – to tilt the Democratic D.A. primary in Arroyo’s favor by trying to smear Hayden to show he was somehow under federal investigation, texts and emails show.
It didn’t work, but it easily could have without the public ever knowing the real truth.
In fact Rollins would have probably gotten away with her unethical tampering and still be U.S. Attorney if she hadn’t stupidly gone inside a Democratic Party fundraiser featuring first lady Jill Biden – and the Boston Herald didn’t report her attendance. That lapse – for which she incorrectly claimed she had prior approval – triggered the ethical probe by the Inspector General and Office of Special Counsel.
It turns out the DNC fundraiser was probably the least egregious ethical lapse compared to the election tampering.
The Globe actually ran three stories about Hayden using Rollins as an anonymous source. The Herald ran a story but only after the primary was over and Hayden won.
That’s why it’s so important for reporters to know the personal agendas of anonymous stories and to check out everything they tell you.
Journalists like to think of themselves as using lofty ethical standards but when it comes to political or investigative journalism the sausage-making can be unseemly.
The Rollins probe has slimed an untrustworthy press and feeds into why an already cynical public hates and doesn’t trust the media.
The twin investigative reports about Rollins also showed how dangerous it is for the public and media to glorify and lionize public officials.
When Rollins threw herself an elaborate swearing-in ceremony over a year ago at the federal courthouse in Boston, both Democrats and Republicans rushed to praise her as a “trailblazer” – as the Boston Globe called her – and predicted greatness for her.
Among those who showed up in tribute were New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a host of public officials including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and nearly every living former U.S. Attorney – including Republican appointees.
“She has the values, the vision, and the courage to be an outstanding US attorney,” Warren said, adding that Rollins “has devoted her career to transforming the criminal justice system.”
Michael Sullivan, a Republican-appointed former US attorney, called Rollins a “uniter” of people and predicted she would be an “extraordinary” US attorney. Seriously, he did.