As a former Secretary of Public Safety, Sheriff of Suffolk County and a woman of color, Andrea Cabral says she sympathizes with Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Last week, Rollins became embroiled in controversy after she responded to public criticism of her efforts to reduce the incarcerated population by not prosecuting certain crimes from Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration by invoking the governor’s son.
“Candidly, you know, not everyone gets the benefit of the Baker family when they have interacted with the criminal justice system. They don’t get to not get arrested, have the State Police that reports to them handle the investigation, etc.,” Rollins said during a press conference on Friday in reference to the decision of federal authorities not to charge Baker’s son, A.J., after he was accused of groping a woman on a flight to Boston over the summer.
Rollins: 'What You're Not Going To Do Is Disrespect This Office'
The comment came as a response to public criticism, not from Baker himself, but his Secretary of Public Safety, Thomas A. Turco III, who took grievance with Rollins' intent to not prosecute some drug possession and other minor crimes. Having been in the position herself, Cabral criticized Turco’s actions, and said that even if Baker was initially unaware of Turco’s letter, as the governor he bears responsibility for the comments of a cabinet secretary.
“D.A. Rollins is absolutely right that it was inappropriate for the secretary to simply send her a letter — which it immediately becomes an official communication and part of the public record — criticizing her [instead of] picking up the telephone, and having a conversation and trying to understand fully what is behind the policy,” Cabral said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Thursday.
As pressure mounted on Rollins and Baker from their respective allies over the weekend, the two sought to dampen the tension by speaking in a private phone call on Saturday, which ended positively, according to Rollins. Cabral hopes, however, that in the midst of the high profile feud, Rollins’ deeper message that there are deep racial and economic inequities in the criminal justice system, which need to be addressed, does not get lost.
“I don’t disagree with her at all in the pushback,” Cabral said. “I think the point she was trying to make when she raised the case involving Gov. Baker’s son ... is important, which is: Don’t pretend that it’s a level playing field for everyone.”
