Charles Flaherty (politician)

Charles Flaherty
Charles Flaherty, 1983
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 2, 1991 – April 1, 1996
Preceded byGeorge Keverian
Succeeded byThomas Finneran
Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 2, 1985 – January 2, 1991
Preceded byW. Paul White
Succeeded byRichard A. Voke
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 27th Middlesex district
In office
January 1979 – April 1, 1996
Preceded bySherman Saltmarsh, Jr.
Succeeded byAlice Wolf
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 3rd Middlesex district
In office
January 1967 – January 1979
Preceded byTimothy W. Hickey
Succeeded byPaul Cellucci
Personal details
Born (1938-10-13) October 13, 1938 (age 86)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic Party
ResidenceCambridge, Massachusetts
Alma materBoston College

Charles F. Flaherty (born October 13, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts) is a former U.S. politician who served as a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1967 to 1996. He was the House Majority Leader from 1985 to 1990 and the Speaker of the House from 1991 to 1996.[1]

In 1996, Flaherty agreed to plead guilty to felony tax evasion for submitting false receipts regarding his business expenses.[2][3] In addition, he also admitted to civil violations of state conflict of interest law for receiving free vacation housing from lobbyists.[4] He stepped down as house Speaker and was fined $50,000.[5]

  1. ^ Edward B. O'Neill; Robert E. MacQueen. 1995-1996 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. ^ "Massachusetts House Speaker Charles F. Flaherty charged with felony tax fraud; Will admit guilt on federal tax and state ethics allegations" (Press release). U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. March 27, 1996.
  3. ^ UPI (March 27, 1996). "Mass. House speaker in tax fraud plea". upi.com.
  4. ^ "In the Matter of Charles F. Flaherty, Jr". Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. March 27, 1996.
  5. ^ staff (Jan 10, 2011). "Flaherty quitting today". southcoasttoday.com.