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Well, folks, the Massachusetts Democrat machine just keeps churning out corruption like it’s auditioning for a Scorsese flick. The latest poster boy for Bay State shadiness is State Representative Christopher Flanagan (D-First Barnstable), who got himself arrested Thursday after a federal indictment slapped him with five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records. Why? Oh, just a little scheme to swipe tens of thousands from a local trade association to bankroll his midlife crisis.
This Cape Cod con artist allegedly funneled the pilfered cash into everything from mortgage payments to Macy’s menswear—because nothing screams “man of the people” like a crisp new sports coat. But wait, it gets better: Flanagan also dropped coin on psychic services (guess the spirits didn’t warn him about the feds), kids’ toys, and—naturally—his 2022 campaign. Classy.
Flanagan, 37, reps the quaint Cape towns of Dennis, Yarmouth, and Brewster, but he might be trading those seaside views for a 120-year prison stint if convicted. He was nabbed Thursday morning and is set to face a federal judge at 2:30 p.m. Wonder if he’ll wear one of those fancy ties he bought with stolen money.
The feds’ indictment reads like a bad crime novel. Back in 2021, while Flanagan was playing Executive Officer at the Home Builders Association of Cape Cod (HBA), his personal finances were a dumpster fire—overdraft fees, missed mortgage payments, the works. So, like any upstanding public servant, he allegedly started looting the nonprofit to the tune of at least $36,000 via wire transfers, PayPal, and official checks. Here’s a taste of his shopping spree:Over a grand on ties, dress shirts, and sports coats—because embezzlement demands a sharp look.
Hundreds for psychic readings. (Maybe he was asking, “Will I get caught?” Spoiler: Yes.)
Campaign t-shirts disguised as “office supplies.” Subtle.
Toys and kids’ clothes from Target—because even crooks love a bargain.
To cover his tracks, Flanagan allegedly cooked up fake expense reports and hacked into the HBA’s bookkeeping system using another employee’s credentials. According to the U.S. Attorney, he passed off luxury splurges as “office supplies” or “travel expenses.” Real genius move there, Chris.
The MA Attorney’s Office laid it bare:
As part of his concealment, it is alleged that Flanagan told the HBA Board that he withdrew funds to reimburse himself for HBA-related expenses that he had paid for out-of-pocket with his personal funds.
When the HBA Board requested proof, Flanagan allegedly provided two phony expense reports:
On the first expense report, Flanagan allegedly claimed he had spent $159.36 on “Technology Expenses” at Best Buy on March 4, 2022 and $537.26 on “Office Supplies” at 4Imprint on April 18, 2022.
Records of the actual purchases, however, allegedly showed that the Best Buy purchase was for a portable Bluetooth speaker and that the 4Imprint purchase was for t-shirts supporting Flanagan’s State Representative campaign:
Additionally, in the second expense report, Flanagan allegedly claimed to have spent a total of $3,784.84 on “Office Supplies.” Records of the actual purchases, however, allegedly showed that $2,118.10 of this amount was actually used for Flanagan’s personal expenses.
Specifically: $613.70 and $361.24 Best Buy purchases were allegedly for an electric dryer and an air conditioner, both delivered to Flanagan’s home; a $1,050.30 Macy’s purchase allegedly for men’s ties, dress shirts, slacks and sports coats; and a $92.86 purchase at Target allegedly for children’s clothes and toys.
But Flanagan’s grift didn’t stop at stealing. When the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) started sniffing around a shady 2022 campaign mailer from a supposed group called “Conservatives for Dennis,” he went full soap opera. The guy allegedly invented a fake persona—meet “Jeanne Louise”—and set up email accounts to play her and others, all to throw OCPF off his trail. When they questioned a $10,000 campaign donation that magically appeared post-theft, Flanagan swore it was his own money. Bank records? Yeah, they showed $42 in his account days earlier. Smooth.
As of now, this guy’s still warming a seat in office, pocketing a taxpayer-funded salary north of $100,000 a year. If convicted, he’s looking at up to 120 years in the slammer and $1.5 million in fines. A federal judge will decide his fate, but I’m guessing “psychic services” won’t help him now.
The MassGOP is, unsurprisingly, fed up, demanding Flanagan’s immediate resignation. Their statement didn’t mince words:
The Massachusetts Republican Party is calling on the Massachusetts Democratic Party to demand the immediate resignation of State Representative Chris Flanagan, who was arrested this week on federal fraud charges. The charges allege that Flanagan stole tens of thousands of dollars from his former employer to finance his political campaign, pay his mortgage and credit cards, and fund personal expenses including psychic services and high-end menswear.
“This is not the first time the Massachusetts Republican Party has called for Chris Flanagan to resign,” said MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale. “Back in January, when the Office of Campaign and Political Finance found Flanagan responsible for violating campaign finance laws—including fabricating a false alias to intentionally mislead his constituents—we said then that he had no place in public office. The federal charges only confirm what was already evident: Chris Flanagan is unfit to serve, and Massachusetts Democrats must demand his resignation now.”
Carnevale didn’t stop there, pointing out that Flanagan’s just one rotten apple in a very moldy Democrat barrel:
“The Massachusetts Democratic Party has a serious problem,” continued Carnevale. “This is not about isolated bad actors—it’s about a culture of corruption and entitlement that’s gone unchecked for far too long. The MassDems must demonstrate they are capable of holding their own accountable, starting with calling for Chris Flanagan’s resignation today.”
She’s not wrong. In just the past two weeks, Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson (yep, another Dem) pleaded guilty to fraud and is somehow still in office. Then there’s a high-ranking MassDems operative nabbed for crimes too vile to print here. And now Flanagan’s playing Bernie Madoff with nonprofit funds. Pattern? You bet.
So, will the Massachusetts Dems finally grow a spine and boot Flanagan? Or will they keep circling the wagons around their own, as usual? I’m not holding my breath, but the popcorn’s ready.
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