Whitey Bulger Insists He Was Never An Informant In New Film
BOSTON (CBS) - A new documentary film debuting at the Sundance Film Festival includes recorded conversations between James "Whitey" Bulger and his lawyer.
"I took many a beating at the police stations and I never cracked," Bulger says in the film "WHITEY: United States Of America v. James J. Bulger."
The film features Bulger on the phone with his attorney, J.W. Carney, Jr., insisting he never ratted on anyone and was never a FBI informant.
"Whatever he says really has to be taken with a grain of salt," said Brian Kelly, the man who prosecuted the infamous mobster. Kelly insists the feds busted dozens of criminals based on Whitey's info. "It's a ridiculous argument," Kelly says. "Of course he was an informant."
The 90 minute film also features Whitey fawning over his 16 years on the run with girlfriend Catherine Greig. He says she changed his life. "I turned and become very, very human," Bulger said.
Bulger also says he offered his own execution, in exchange for her release. "You can execute me, you can give me life sentence you can do whatever you want, but I want her to be free," Bulger said.
"Again that's more false bravado by Bulger," Kelly responded. "He never offered to submit to the death penalty."
Kelly, who is now a Nixon-Peabody attorney, says the feds weren't about to cut loose the woman who helped a brutal killer evade justice.
"He's going to try to rehabilitate his image which is absurd," Kelly said.
Bulger admits tips from befriended FBI agent John Connolly often spared him from arrest, but still argues he never flipped on any cohort in return. "I never, never, never cracked," Bulger said. "The Boston FBI? No way."
The former prosecutor just hopes a fancy film doesn't breed any undeserved sympathy. "He was involved in some horrific crimes, almost three decades, and that's how he should be remembered," Kelly said.