Hollywood should do a Tierney show (Salem MA DEM)

If a tasteless sitcom about Whitey Bulger doesn’t work out, maybe Hollywood will do a “Sopranos”-type drama about the Tierney all-in-the family gambling ring. The cast of characters could include U.S. Rep. John Tierney’s wife, Patrice, his brothers-in-law Daniel Eremian and the fugitive Robert Eremian, Mrs. Tierney’s son, John Chew, and her late father.

The congressman’s role can be modeled on Sgt. Schultz who, like Tierney, knew nothing.

When Mrs. Tierney first admitted to “willful blindness to tax fraud,” all the news reports stated that $7 million was funneled through her account.

Now that Daniel Eremian is about to go on trial, we learn that the gambling ring collected at least $22 million. The U.S. attorney’s recent filings show that Mrs. Tierney handled $10 million, not the original $7 million.

So is Congressman Tierney’s statement — “I couldn’t tell you if there was $5 going through there or $500” — still believable, if it was ever believable?

The congressman also claims that “he and his wife never benefited from Eremian’s money.”

However, court documents state that Patrice Tierney spent between $20,000 to $30,000 on a Volkswagen Beetle, purchased a cell phone and collected $20,000 annually in payments.

Another believe-it-or-not statement from Congressman Tierney is that he has a “21st century marriage.”

He is cool with letting Patrice do her own thing. But wouldn’t any spouse want to know how the significant other paid for the car, or what the payments are?

The claims are even more incredulous coming from a member of Congress who sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

By law, Tierney is required to make financial disclosures that include his wife’s income.

When the “family affair” of alleged racketeering bought a helicopter for the business, the congressman either didn’t notice or didn’t care. It is not exactly another average business expense.

Former Speaker Sal DiMasi just got eight years for his $65,000 kick-back scheme.

Former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson received 3 1⁄2 years for stuffing her bra with bribe money.

Former Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner is in jail for three years for the preacher’s $1,000 handshake.

And Mrs. Tierney got 30 days on four counts of aiding and abetting in the filing false tax returns.

Her attorney is a miracle worker for the politically connected and the congressman has to be blind as a bat.

Bill Hudak: Tierney had to know...

>>“Congressman Tierney, who has been elected every two years from 1996 to date, has to have more knowledge than he led everyone to believe before the 2010 election, because apparently the whole Eremian family, including Patrice Tierney, her son John Chew, her brothers, and her father, were involved in a widespread and regular scheme, some for decades, which affected John Tierney’s family finances directly,” Hudak said.

>>“Patrice Tierney avoided the possibility of a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and a $400,000 fine concerning her involvement in the scheme by reaching a plea bargain agreement on September 20, 2010, agreeing to plead guilty to aiding and abetting tax fraud and cooperate with authorities, before the public even became aware of her involvement,” said Hudak. “The deal was negotiated behind closed doors, was originally sealed from public view expressly to avoid publicity, was opened on October 4, 2010 with a guilty plea made within 24 hours, and Congressman Tierney himself then took charge of all public announcements concerning his Wife,” Hudak continued. “One has to wonder if her upcoming testimony is part of the arrangement,” he said.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8819216.htm

(Patrice Tierney got a slap on the wrist.)

What's the problem here?

The Tierney's are operating in what I must assume is approved Massachusetts style. After all, Whitey's brother certainly knew nothing of his extra-legal activities. In fact, he had absolutely no idea Whitey was in Santa Monica.

One brother's with the gov. The other is with the crooks, and a third sibling is in Holy Orders. Southie tradition lives! Perhaps Mama Tierney will now take the veil? Those Bingo operations could use more professionalism, IMHO.

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