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Federal judge rejects DiMasi appeal for bailBy Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff September 24, 2011 Disgraced former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi lost his bid yesterday to remain free pending an appeal of his conviction on political corruption charges and must report to a federal prison Nov. 16. In rejecting DiMasi’s request for bail, US District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf said he found no likelihood that the former lawmaker will be successful in his appeal to have his conviction overturned or his sentence reduced. **SNIP** Once one of the most powerful politicians in the state and the first...

BOSTON -- With the high-profile corruption trial of former House speaker Sal DiMasi set to begin Tuesday, Beacon Hill is bracing for what could be a devastating look at the relationship between money, corruption and power in Massachusetts politics. Prosecutors are preparing to tell a sordid tale of a political insider who accepted bribes and then tried to cover up the evidence after the controversy was exposed. The defense will argue there was no quid pro quo. Legal experts say the trial promises to give the public a front-row seat to the relationship between lobbyists and politicians. It could also...

Deborah DiMasi’s TV book show has been suspended “indefinitely” by NECN in the wake of her husband’s federal indictment on fraud and conspiracy charges. In a statement released yesterday, NECN President and General Manager Charlie Kravetz said the regional news network is aggressively covering the federal case against ex-House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and wanted to avoid “any perception of a conflict of interest.” Deborah DiMasi co-hosted “The Open Book Club” with Christy Scott Cashman, the wife of politically wired construction magnate Jay Cashman. The Sunday night show debuted in April 2008. “NECN is aggressively covering the government’s case against...

Former House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and three Beacon Hill power brokers have been indicted on corruption charges in connection with a State House scandal involving lucrative software contracts, the U.S. attorney announced today. DiMasi, his former accountant Richard Vitale, lobbyist Richard McDonough and software broker Joseph Lally have all been charged, according to a federal indictment. All four were released this afternoon on $10,000 bail each, but they will only have to pay if they skip any court hearings. All are due back in federal court in Boston Monday. The co-defendants were also ordered to hand over their passports...

After reading today's article at American Thinker on the impending doom of the New York Times, I thought I'd check out the dying paper's website while it still existed. How often does one get the opportunity to study a dinosaur just before it goes extinct? The following headline grabbed my eye: Speaker of Massachusetts House Resigns Over Friendship That sounds innocuous enough, I thought. The guy must have friend in need, and he's resigning to help the friend out, right? How thoughtful. And boring enough to make most people not even bother to read the story. So of course I...

Embattled House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi said in an interview this afternoon that he will resign from the Legislature on Tuesday, saying he is proud of his record and is leaving with his ''head high.'' DiMasi, who has endured public scrutiny because of influence-peddling allegations involving close his friends, was sending a letter to his House colleagues tonight informing them of his decision.

Howie thread starting with his Sunday Herald column

Meet Senor Sal DiMasi, the best amigo lobbyists ever had on Beacon Hill. Senor Sal is the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He is the hack hombre whose members waste away in Margaritaville as the pesos are changing hands behind closed doors. It is a muy tough job, being speaker. When you take the job, the feds immediately empanel a new grand jury, on spec. The boss of the Gambino crime family has a better chance of avoiding indictment than the boss of the Mass. House. Still, Senor Sal dreams that he will be the first speaker in...