Former Mass. state treasurer Tim Cahill agreed to pay a $100,000 civil fine and be put under probation for allegedly using the Massachusetts State Lottery to fund his 2010 campaign for governor.
Cahill appeared in Suffolk Superior Court Friday afternoon, after being indicted in early April on one account of violating a state ethics law. He was originally tried in December but a mistrial was declared after six days of unresolved deliberations.
Mass. Attorney Gen. Martha Coakley, released a statement Friday following the disposition agreement.
“With today’s resolution, Treasurer Cahill has now admitted that he violated our state ethics laws during his 2010 gubernatorial campaign,” she said. “He has paid a significant penalty as a result. With the Treasurer’s admission of these violations and the payment of this fine, we believe this is a just resolution to this case.”
Cahill was charged with approving the overlapping of lottery management ads and his own gubernatorial campaign ads, which promoted his good relationship with the Massachusetts State lottery.
Brad Bailey, Cahill’s attorney, said to the press after court that they were pleased to avoid a second criminal trial.
“The fact that there will be no criminal admission is something that both sides worked on and worked out,” he said.
James O’Brien, lead prosecutor, said in court that this was the best agreement the Commonwealth could offer.
“The defense attorneys and the Commonwealth have negotiated as well as we possibly can in making this proposal to you. I cannot imagine doing a better job,” he said, “I believe that we have all done the best we can to reach an agreement short of retrying this case.”
Cahill said after court that he was very pleased with the result of the case.
“I am very happy to have this over with,” he said. “I’m very satisfied with the outcome. I’m just very happy for my family, for my wife, for all of my kids that this is behind me now and that we got a civil outcome.”
Cahill said he hopes this will be the last mark on his political record.
“Hopefully this will be the last time that I have to see the inside of Suffolk Superior Court,” he said.
Cahill’s probation will last anywhere from 18 months to four years and he will not be allowed to seek public office during that time, according to a Friday press release from Coakley’s office.
Emalie Gainey, spokeswoman of Coakley’s office, said Coakley would appear on Fox 25 Thursday morning and is likely to answer further questions pertaining to the case.