MassGOP Calls For Flanagan To Resign Amid Federal Investigation

BREWSTER – State Representative Chris Flanagan was sworn in on Jan. 1 for his second consecutive term amid an ongoing federal investigation into fraud allegations that started in September. 

On Jan. 7, the Massachusetts Republican Party released a statement calling for Flanagan’s resignation. 

“Representative Flanagan has repeatedly misled the public and violated campaign finance laws,” as documented by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), said Amy Carnevale, MassGOP chair. “His pattern of illegal actions has escalated to the point of federal scrutiny. This is not a partisan issue; it’s about restoring trust in our elected officials. Representative Flanagan must resign immediately to uphold the integrity of the office he holds.” 

The release urged the legislature’s Democratic supermajority to expel Flanagan from office in the event he refuses to resign. The GOP group likened the situation to that of former State Representative Carlos Henriquez, who was expelled after he was sentenced to six months in prison after a domestic battery charge. 

The group said that lawmakers should not wait until there is a conviction this time around.

 On Sept. 20, Officer Paulo Cruz of the Yarmouth Police Department responded to a call for a “past fraud.” In a heavily redacted report, the officer describes a conversation between himself and the reporting party identifying Flanagan’s alleged fraudulent activity. The offense was reported as federal larceny of over $1,200. 

 According to the report, “inconsistencies were prevalent” when Flanagan used a business account to issue “checks written to himself” and “several withdrawals totaling about $36,000.” On a separate section of the report labeled “other properties,” an amount of $26,500 was listed as “stolen.” 

 In April, the OCPF sent Flanagan a public resolution letter regarding a complaint received concerning a fraudulent mailer. The review found merit in the complaint, along with a failure to comply with Massachusetts campaign finance laws and obstruction of the investigation. 

 Prior to the 2022 race for First Barnstable District State Representative, the Democratic candidate’s committee sent out a mailer signed from “Conservatives for Dennis” without filing a disclosure. The OCPF also conducted an extensive review of the committee’s financial activity and concluded that Flanagan and his committee “did not comply with the Massachusetts campaign finance law.”

 During the investigation, Flanagan posed under the alias “Jean Louise” to “conceal [his] financial role in the creation of the mailer in support of [his] election,” according to the letter. 

 Flanagan resigned from his executive position with the nonprofit Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, effective May 10. 

 Shortly after the Yarmouth Police Department completed its report, the investigation was passed on to the Barnstable Police Department, which declined to comment about the ongoing investigation. 

 On Jan. 3, the Barnstable Police Department issued a press release stating that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts had taken on the investigation. Flanagan and his campaign are under investigation for “alleged potential criminal activity” according to the office of the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney. The investigation is still ongoing with no formal charges issued at this time. 

 Calls to Flanagan’s office for comment were not returned.