Former Massachusetts Lottery official, Edward Farley, revealed in legal documents that he was repeatedly asked by Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to delete text exchanges between them. This information came to light during sworn testimony related to the state’s firing of Shannon O’Brien, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair.
In the testimony, Farley detailed a close political relationship with Goldberg dating back to 2005, which included phone calls and texts. Public record specialists expressed concern that Goldberg, as a state official, was instructing the deletion of potentially public records.
The conversations between Farley and Goldberg discussed O’Brien’s hiring, performance, and dismissal, including allegations of racial insensitivity and bullying. Farley stated that Goldberg asked him to delete text messages regarding O’Brien after sending him a recorded meeting where she inquired about O’Brien’s demeanor.
The New England First Amendment Coalition’s Executive Director, Justin Silverman, emphasized that text messages are subject to public records laws with specific retention policies. Farley has offered to have a forensic expert retrieve the deleted messages from his phone and challenged Goldberg to do the same.
Goldberg’s actions have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in state operations. The legal proceedings shed light on the importance of preserving digital communication for public access and oversight. O’Brien is currently appealing her dismissal while the fallout from this revelation continues to unfold.
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