June 3, 2010: Dianne Wilkerson pleads guilty

>> Rooney: TONIGHT ON

"GREATER BOSTON", THE FALL

IS COMPLETE.

FORMER STATE SENATOR DIANNE

WILKERSON PLEADS GUILTY TO

CORRUPTION.

PLUS THE COMEBACK OF THE

BALD EAGLE-- AGENCY NELL

MASSACHUSETTS.

AND BACK ON THE SEA, LINDA

GREENLAW WITH HER NEW BOOK

"SEAWORTHY"

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>> Rooney: GOOD EVENING.

A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER SHE

WAS ACCUSED OF TAKING BRIBES

FORMER STATE SENATOR DIANNE

WILKERSON TODAY PLED GUILTY

TO EIGHT COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED

EXTORTION IN EXCHANGE FOR

THE OTHER 24 CHARGES BEING

DROPPED.

A FEDERAL JUDGE WILL NOW

REVIEW THE CASE AND

SENTENCING IS SET FOR

SEPTEMBER 20th.

JARED BOWEN HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: HER VOW OF

INNOCENCE NOW A CONFESSION

OF GUILT.

FORMER STATE SENATOR DIANNE

WILKERSON PLEADED GUILTY

THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 COUNTS

OF ATTEMPTED EXTORTION.

THE RESULT OF A FEDERAL

INVESTIGATION WHERE SHE WAS

CAUGHT ON CAMERA TAKING

BRIBES.

>> THIS IS, INDEED, A VERY

SAD DAY FOR DIANNE WILKERSON

BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT

TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE

IS MUCH MORE TO THIS PERSON

THAN THE ONE WHO STOOD

BEFORE THE JUDGE TODAY.

>> Reporter: WILKERSON WILL

BE SENTENCED IN LATE

SEPTEMBER WITH PROSECUTORS

RECOMMENDING UP TO FOUR

YEARS IN PRISON.

PROBATION AND THE RETURN OF

$23,500 SHE CHREJTED IN

BRIBES.

IN A STATEMENT RELEASED

TODAY SHE WRITES, THE

DECISION TO ENTER THIS PLEA,

THOUGH DIFFICULT, IS BEST

FOR MY FAMILY AND THE

COMMUNITY I CARE FOR SO

DEEPLY.

AS I HAVE DONE ALL MY LIFE,

I WILL GET PAST THIS AS

WELL.

EVEN FOR A WOMAN WHO HAD

ALREADY HAD SEVERAL LEGAL

ENTANGLEMENTS AND A STINT IN

A HALFWAY HOUSE THE EVENTS

OF OCTOBER 28th, 2008, WERE

A STUNNER.

IN A HASTILY CALLED PRESS

CONFERENCE FEDERAL

AUTHORITIES UNVEILED VIVID

PICTURES OF WILKERSON

ACCEPTING BRIBES.

>> IN TOTAL SENATOR

WILKERSON ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTED

$23,500 IN CASH PAYMENTS.

>> Reporter: ALL TOLD

WILKERSON WAS SADDLED WITH

32 CHARGES IN TAKE MONEY IN

PART TO SECURE A LIQUOR

LICENCE FOR A ROXBURY

NIGHTCLUB.

SHE COLLECTED THE CASH AT

LOCATIONS NEAR THE STATE

HOUSE.

ONCE STUFFING IT INTO HER

BRA, ANOTHER TIME COLLECTING

IT WITH HER GRANDCHILD IN

TOW.

>> IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE

PAYMENTS SENATOR WILKERSON

ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED THE

LICENSING BOARD.

>> Reporter: SHE ACCEPTED

EVEN MORE PAYMENTS TO PAVE

THE WAY FOR A DEVELOPMENT

DEAL IN ROXBURY.

WITHIN A MONTH OF THE ARREST

WILKERSON RESIGNED FROM HER

SENATE SEAT OF NEARLY 16

YEARS.

ALSO ENSNARED IN THE CITY IS

CHUCK TURNER WHO IS

SCHEDULED TO BE TRIED IN THE

FALL.

BUT FOR THE ONE-TIME STAR

SENATOR, THIS IS THE RISE,

FALL AND NOW IMPRISONMENT OF

DIANNE WILKERSON.

>> Rooney: AND JARED BOWSEN

HERE ALONG WITH DEFENSE

ATTORNEY WILLIAM KICKHAM AND

BARRY LAWTON, A FORMER AID

TOE DIANNE WILKERSON.

WELL, IT WAS FEDERAL COURT,

JAR EAD-- JARED SO THERE

WERE NO CAMERAS.

BUT WHAT WAS IT LIKE.

WHAT WAS HER DEMEANOR?

>> SHE WAS VERY RESERVED.

SHE JUST BASICALLY SAT AT

HER TABLE LIKE THIS FOR MOST

OF THE HEARING.

SHE SAID VERY LITTLE.

SHE BASICALLY HAD TO ANSWER

THAT YES, SHE UNDERSTOOD

THAT SHE WAS PLEADING

GUILTY.

SHE UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING

THAT WAS BEING REVIEWED.

THE ONLY SORT OF DRAMATIC

MOMENT WITH HER CAME WHEN

WITH THE VERY ULTIMATE

QUESTION DO YOU UNDERSTAND

ARE YOU IMMEDIATELY PLEADING,

SHE CAUSED BEFORE ANSWERING

YES.

AND WE DID HEAR A LITTLE BIT

TOO FROM HER BECAUSE THE

JUDGE HAD TO ASCERTAIN

WHETHER THERE WERE OTHER

INFLUENCES AFFECTING HER

LIKE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SHE SAID THERE IS NO

SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SHE IS NOT ON MEDICATION AND

SHE HASN'T HAD ANY

PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT SO WE

ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE

INSIGHT INTO WHO SHE IS AND

WHAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING FOR

THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF

WITH HIS QUESTIONS AS WELL.

>> Rooney: THERE IS A LOT OF

SPECULATION THAT SHE HAS

COOPERATED WITH AUTHORITIES

AND GIVEN THEM SOMETHING.

BECAUSE DEFENSE AREN'T GOING

TO DROP CHARGES FOR NO GOOD

REASON AND JUST CUT A PLEA

DEAL.

THEY'VE GO TO TRIAL THAT IS

THE WAY THEY OPERATE.

THEY DROPPED 24 OF THESE

CHARGES WHICH WERE LARGELY

MAIL FRAUD AND THAT KIND OF

THING.

THEY ALREADY HAD THE GOODS

ON THE EXTORTION.

THOSE ARE THE ONES SHE PLED

GUILTY TO, SO THAT IS THE

HEART OF THE CASE RIGHT

THERE.

SO I MEAN WHAT IS YOUR BEST

GUESS HERE.

DID SHE TURN SOMEBODY ELSE

IN.

IS THERE ANOTHER SHOE THAT

IS GOING TO DROP.

>> THERE MAY BE ANOTHER SHOE

THAT IS GOING TO DROP.

CLEARLY SHE HAD SOME

VALUABLE INFORMATION TO GIVE

THEM IN RETURN FOR WHAT THEY

WERE GIVING HER.

NO DOUBT.

AND FROM A CRIMINAL DEFENSE

ATTORNEYS PERSPECTIVE, SHE

GOT A VERY GOOD DEAL.

I MEAN SHE GOT BASICALLY 6

MONTHS FOR EVERY ONE OF THE

8 CHARGES.

>> Rooney: IF IT COMES DOWN.

>> IF IT COMES DOWN.

>> Rooney: IF SHE GETS THAT

MUCH.

>> EXACTLY.

IF IT COMES DOWN TO THAT ON

SEPTEMBER 20th SO IF IT DOES,

SHE GOT LEGALLY SPEAKING A

GREAT DEAL.

IT MAY WELL BE THAT SHE HAD

SOMETHING TO OFFER THAT WE

DON'T YET KNOW THAT HASN'T

COME OUT.

>> Rooney: ISN'T THAT

PROBABLY LIKELY.

>> IT'S PROBABLY VERY

LIKELY.

>> Rooney: YOU KNOW, BARRY,

EVEN BY WHAT JARED SAID A

SECOND AGO, HER HESITATION

TO SAY YES, I MEAN THERE IS

KIND OF UNDERTOW OF

SUSPICION HERE THAT SHE

DOESN'T REALLY THINK SHE'S

GUILTY.

I MEAN SHE SAID THAT THE IN

THE BEGINNING.

WE'VE HEARD CHUCK TURNER SAY

THAT, EVEN IN THE LAST FEW

DAYS.

IS THERE, I MEAN S THERE A

GENERAL SENSE IN THE

COMMUNITY TOO THAT SHE HAS

GOTTEN A RAW DEAL ON THIS?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

AND I THINK THAT THE

RETICENCE THAT JARED SPOKE

OF IS PROBABLY VERY GENUINE.

SHE UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW,

TAKING A WOUND, A PERSONAL

WOUND AND THE COMMUNITY HAS

TAKEN ONE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST OVER THIS.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF

TIME.

SO I THINK THAT IN HER MIND

IT WAS COMING TO FRUITION.

THIS IT WAS COMING NOT TO

THE END BUT COMING TOWARDS

THE CLOSURE.

AND IT WOULD START THE

HEALING PROCESS.

>> BUT YOU KNOW SHE ISSUED A

STATEMENT TODAY AND JARED

READ IT IN PART BUT IT WAS

MUCH MORE TO IT.

SHE SAID THERE IS MUCH MORE

THAT COULD BE SAID HERE.

BELIEVE ME I WANT TO SAY IT.

I'M NOT REMAINING SILENT OUT

OF ARROGANCE.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT

TIME TO TALK THERE WILL COME

A DAY WHEN I WILL EXPLAIN

EVERYTHING AS IF THERE IS AN

EXPLANATION, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

PERHAPS SHELL'S GIVE MORE

INSIGHT INTO THE PRESSURES

THAT SHE HAS.

I KNOW WORKING WITH HER, AND

SEEING HOW SHE WAS WITH HER

FAMILY, SHE IS A MATRIARCH

OF HER FAMILY.

AND ANYBODY IN THAT POSITION

HAS DEMAND ITS ON HER THAT,

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY

NO TO YOUR FAMILY WHEN YOU

HAVE THOSE TYPES OF

PRESSURES.

SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY AND

THE MEDIA, THEY DON'T KNOW

THE FULL STORY.

CERTAINLY SOING THERE WILL

BE TIME FOR THAT TO COME

OUT.

>> I CAN OFFER THAT THE ONE

TIME THEY DISPUTED ANYTHING

TODAY THERE WAS A VERY

LENGTHY PERIOD WHEN THEY

WENT THROUGH ALL EIGHT

INSTANCES AND HOW THE

TRANSACTIONS TOOK PLACE.

AND AFTERWARD HER ATTORNEY

STOOD UP AND SAID WE JUST

WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT

DIANNE SAID I WOULD HAVE

DONE THIS ANYWAY.

SHE NEVER SAID I'M DOING

THIS FOR THE MONEY.

SHE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS ONLY

THE AGENCY, UNDERCOVER

AGENTS WHO MADE THE

CONNECTION TO THE MONEY.

THAT LEADS TO WHAT YOU WERE

SAYING THAT SHE WILL, YOU

KNOW,-- .

>> Rooney: SHE WOULD HAVE

ASSISTED THIS GUY IN GETTING

THE LICENCE ANYWAY.

>> THAT HAS BEEN A THEME OF

HER DEFENSE ALL ALONG.

WHETHER IT IS A LEGAL

DEFENSE OR SOMETHING SHE IS

A OFFERING TO REPORTERS IT'S

ALWAYS BEEN THAT SHE WAS

ENTICED.

THAT SHE WASN'T DOING

ANYTHING SHE WOULDN'T

NORMALLY OTHERWISE DO.

>> Rooney: IS THERE SOME

TRUTH TO THAT.

>> THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION

HERE.

GIVEN THE EVIDENCE THAT

EXISTS SO FAR IT TENDS TO BE

DOUBTFUL, GIVEN THE

MULTIPLICITY OF EVENTS THAT

HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE HAVE

BEEN SO MANY THAT HAVE TAKEN

PLACE BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE

THEME ALL AROUND THERE ARE

OTHER REASONS WHY IT

HAPPENED THERE WILL BE

ANOTHER STORY ONE DAY.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND

SEE.

AS OF RIGHT NOW ALL WE KNOW

IS THE EVIDENCE THAT HAS

BEEN INTRODUCED.

>> BUT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS

GOES FAR BEYOND A TRIAL FOR

DIANNE.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE

COMMUNITY IS VERY CONNECTED.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT THE

PRESS COVERAGE, LISTEN TO

TALK RADIO OVER THE LAST

YEARS, THE COMMUNITY HAS

TAKEN A TREMENDOUS BLOW.

AND THEY'VE TAKEN, VIE

CAREUOUSLY THROUGH, AND I

THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER

SUBLIMINAL RACISM INVOLVED

IN THIS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT GOES

BEYOND JUST ONE PERSON.

SO HOPEFULLY THE RESIDUAL

AFFECTS OF THIS WILL BE A

CLOSER EXAMINATION ON YOU

KNOW WHAT THE MEDIA'S ROLE

IS IN THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SERIOUS

CRIME SITUATION IN THIS

COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT THE

COMMUNITY VOICES ARE NOW

STARTING TO BE HEARD.

THAT'S WHAT DIANNE DID.

SHE WAS ABLE TO ARTICULATE

THOSE CONCERNS.

>> Rooney: TALK ABOUT THAT A

LITTLE BIT MORE.

BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TALKING

RIGHT HERE BEFORE WE STARTED

TAPING, THERE ARE SOME

PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVE

THAT THERE IS AN UNDERTOW OF

RACISM.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT.

>> I BELIEVE IT IS PART.

IF YOU LISTEN TO THE TALK

RADIO OVER THE PAST FEW

YEARS OR OVER THE PAST FEW

YEARS CERTAINLY SOME OF IT

HAS COME OUT.

I UNDERSTAND WHY, IT IS

OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE

ISSUES.

THERE ARE LEGAL ISSUES.

>> Rooney: SHE HAD A LOT

OF --

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF

ISSUES THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW IN LISTENING TO

THE TALK RADIO, I MEAN IT'S

SIMPLY HATE.

>> Rooney: IT'S UGLY.

>> I'M GOING TO AGREE AND

DISAGREE WITH BARRY.

HE'S GOT A GOOD POINT.

AGREE WITH HIM IN THE SENSE

THAT TALK RADIO, SOME RADIO

HOSTS OUT THERE ARE PUTTING

THIS ON THE COMMUNITY.

AND TRYING TO ASSOCIATE

VICARIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY

WITH HER ACTION.

THAT'S COMPLETELY AND

TOTALLY WRONG.

SHE SHOULD STAND ON HER OWN

ACTIONS LEGALLY SPEAKING ON

HER ALONE.

THAT'S ALL.

>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU LOOK AT-- .

>> Rooney: IT SHOULDN'T BE

BROADCAST.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE

ITALIAN COMMUNITY, DID NOT

FEEL ANY WRATH FOR SAL

DiMASI.

THE IRISH COMMUNITY FELT NO

WRATH FOR FLAHERTY OR

FINNERAN.

SO I MEAN I THINK THIS IS A

UNIQUE CASE.

AND I THINK THAT IT GOES FAR

BEYOND DIANNE WILKERSON.

>> WITH HER DEMEANOR WE'VE

TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

SHE HAS AN A LUVNESS, AN

ARROGANCE REALLY THAT SHE

FEELS SHE IS ABOVE A LOT OF

THINGS AND IT GOES A LITTLE

BIT TO WHAT HAPPENED MAYBE

TODAY IN COURT AND WHAT MAY

HAPPEN LATER.

I QUESTION WHETHER SHE

REALLY THINKS SHE'S GUILTY.

>> YOU CERTAINLY COULDN'T

TELL THAT TODAY FROM WHAT

SHE SAID.

SHE HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT

THERE ON THE POINT YOU WERE

MAKING I THINK ALSO EVEN

THOUGH THEY WEREN'T DIRECTLY

LINKED IN TERMS OF BOTH

ACCEPTING BRIBES TOGETHER OR

CONVERSING CHUCK TURNER HAS

A GREAT INFLUENCE BECAUSE HE

DIRECTLY HAS TALKED ABOUT

RACISM AND HE HAS STIRRED

THE POT.

nd IN ALL OF HIS PRESS

CONFERENCES IN THE WAY HE

HAS CARRIED HIS OWN PRETRIAL

LEADING UP TO THIS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO DRAW A

LINE OF BEFORE AND AFTER.

BEFORE THIS THE PROSECUTION

WAS TO THE DRIVEN AT ALL BY

RACISM I BELIEVE.

AFTER THE FACT SOME RADIO

TALK SHOW HOSTS CAN TRY DO

DO THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE

DONE.

>> MORE TO COME SEPTEMBER

20th.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING

ME.

>> WHEN WE CONTINUE BALD

EAGLES MAKING IT AGAIN IN

MASSACHUSETTS.