Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hasn’t heard the top of her nationally-publicized “enemies” record.
The Wu administration might must go to court docket to defend the record and clarify why it was made after a decide agreed to make it a part of discovery in a case towards a North End restaurateur accused of making an attempt to shoot a enterprise rival.
The lawyer for Patrick Mendoza, the proprietor of Monica’s Trattoria, says she desires to know the way Mendoza ended up on the record of vocal critics and what police did with it – questions that Wu has but to reply.
“I want to know who generated the list, what it was intended for and why it was sent to the Boston police department,” lawyer Rosemary Scapicchio stated in an interview with the Herald.
“I’m trying to get the information because it could be exculpatory to my client.”
And the decide on Friday agreed, that means the Wu administration should flip over emails, texts or any communication in regards to the record.
The order additionally raises the chance that Wu herself or prime brass may very well be deposed below oath.
The record, first reported by the Herald, contains the names of Mendoza and greater than a dozen different vocal Wu critics that have been forwarded to police.
Her critics have in contrast it to Richard Nixon’s “enemies list.”
Wu has stated the record was requested by police and despatched to police by one in every of her aides as a result of the folks on it have been deemed threats to her and her household. Quite a lot of folks on the record have been loudly protesting Wu and displaying up at her public occasions and shouting at her for imposing a Covid vaccine mandate on metropolis workers.
“The reality is that we have a public safety plan for nearly all of our public events now because it is necessary and we are in close coordination with the Boston Police,” Wu stated. “I’m very grateful to BPD for all that they do to keep everyone safe including my family and our city workers.”
Scapicchio stated the record might have a possible bearing on Mendoza’s protection.
“Who decided it was a threat and what was the threat,” Scapicchio stated.
The origin of the record, what it was meant for, the way it was used – all these questions might now be explored below oath in depositions and affidavits.
All the questions Wu hasn’t answered could also be answered in court docket.
“I only know the list exists and my client’s name is on it,” Scapicchio stated. “What was the purpose in generating the list and sending it?”
City officers are imagined to have some solutions when the subsequent listening to for the case is held on Aug. 24.
Mendoza, named as a doubtlessly harmful particular person and charged with assault with intent to homicide, is at present being held in jail with out bail.
Wu is at present on a 10-day trip out of state and didn’t must reply questions in regards to the court docket order. Not but, anyway.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”