Tensions boil over at Boston City Council meeting over accusations against Ricardo Arroyo
BOSTON – Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu all announced Wednesday they are rescinding their endorsements for Ricardo Arroyo in the Suffolk District Attorney race. Later in the day, tensions over the allegations against Arroyo boiled over during a Boston City Council meeting.
Last week, the Boston Globe published an article alleging that Arroyo was accused of sexual assault when he was a teenager. Arroyo denied sexually assaulting anyone and said police never interviewed him.
Arroyo called for an independent investigation into the Globe report. He also blamed his opponent, interim Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden for the leak.
On Tuesday, the Globe published a new interview with one of the women, who said Arroyo sexually assaulted her in 2005 when they were high school classmates.
Warren and Markey released a joint statement Wednesday about their decision to no longer endorse Arroyo.
"The accusations in this case are serious and in light of the latest victim statements reported in Tuesday evening's Boston Globe, we have notified the campaign that we are rescinding our endorsement of Ricardo Arroyo for District Attorney," the statement read.
Wu said that with less than one week to go until Election Day, and tens of thousands of votes already cast, she is "disheartened at the turmoil" in the race.
The allegations by someone who was a minor at the time are deeply troubling to me, as is newly reported information on anonymous threats she received in the past. For the District Attorney to advance the reforms our communities deserve, the office must have our communities' trust and confidence. I can no longer make a public recommendation for a candidate for this office.
Wu said the statement "should not be taken as a tacit endorsement to vote for Kevin Hayden for District Attorney."
Rep. Ayanna Pressley also announced Wednesday she is rescinding her endorsement for Arroyo.
"The events of the past two weeks have caused renewed trauma for all involved and deeply eroded public trust in our candidates for Suffolk County District Attorney. As a result, I am no longer endorsing in this race," Pressley said.
Arroyo said in a statement he is seeking an emergency order through Suffolk Superior Court to access the files with appropriate redactions. Arroyo said he believes the files will prove that law enforcement determined at the time the claims were unfounded.
All allegations of sexual assault should be taken seriously and I will do so as District Attorney. I understand the pain and the harm that sexual assault causes and I care deeply for survivors. I believe our systems should deliver justice through due process and providing spaces to be heard. In this instance, these allegations were heard and investigated by authorities in real time.
These allegations from when I was a junior in high school were investigated and led to no charges being filed. As I have maintained from the beginning, I have never, as a minor or ever, sexually assaulted anyone.
During a Wednesday afternoon Boston City Council meeting, disagreement between members ended with more heated conversation between councilors about redistricting and claims of racism within the board.
The tension reached its boiling point as members of the public interrupted several times. Soon after, several people got into a skirmish in the hallway of City Hall.
"I didn't feel too safe there. My mother was in the audience and then I didn't feel too safe for her either. And that's why I came out into the hallway to make sure my mother got into the elevator," Murphy said. "My problem is to make sure that when a victim has been assaulted that I stick up for her and I believe the women who say this."
Arroyo said he will not drop out of the race.
Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6.
