Mass Congressman Owes Attorneys After Fighting Offshore Gambling Claims

US Representative John F. Tierney of Massachusetts has set up a legal defense fund to help pay for attorneys utilized while defending himself from allegations that he failed to disclose funds derived from his brother-in-law’s offshore gambling business.

Tierney’s opponent, Richard Tisei, called for a congressional investigation into the gambling controversy, which resulted in the sentencing of Tierney's wife, Patrice.  She helped with accounting for her brother Robert Eremian's sports betting company located in Antigua, Sports Off Shore. 

Tisei claimed that the Congressman failed to disclose funds his wife received from those gambling proceeds.  Patrice was said to have paid herself $223,000 over a multi-year period, funds that were never reported on the couple’s tax returns.

Two weeks after the House Ethics Committee concluded it would not be investigating Tierney, the Salem Democrat created the John Tierney Legal Expense Trust on September 19. 

Kathryn Prael, a Tierney spokeswoman, told the Boston Globe she was not immediately sure how much the congressman owes his attorneys.

Tierney defeated his Republican opponent last November.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com