According to an attorney representing Karen Read, the woman accused of hitting and killing her Boston police officer boyfriend in 2022, the Norfolk County district attorney is currently under investigation by federal authorities.
According to Read’s attorney, David Yannetti, during a hearing in Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, it was revealed that District Attorney Michael Morrissey is currently under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During a conference call, the Norfolk D.A.’s Office and the Karen Read defense team engaged with a representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In this call, the U.S. Attorney verified that there is an ongoing federal investigation into the case. Yannetti stated, “It is clear from those letters that District Attorney Morrissey is well aware he’s the target of a federal investigation as a result of his conduct in this case.”
The spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office seemed to contradict Yannetti’s statement in court.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson, Christina Sterling, has acknowledged the hearing that took place in Norfolk County Superior Court regarding the Karen Read case. It is important to note that throughout this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not identified any individual or entity as a target of the investigation.
The eight correspondences between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, which Yannetti mentioned, are of significant importance.
In December, 25 Investigates initially uncovered the presence of the letters. Morrissey’s letter now serves as the official confirmation that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is investigating the arrest and prosecution of Read.
She is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her Lexus SUV and abandoning him to perish in a snowstorm.
Norfolk prosecutor Adam Lally has taken the step of filing a protective order to prevent the public release of eight documents. As of now, the judge has not made a ruling on this motion.
The statements made by Yannetti were also disputed by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. According to David Traub, spokesperson for the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, there was no indication during their communication with the office of the United States Attorney that the Norfolk District Attorney or any member of their office is the target of the federal investigation.
Traub stated that Mr. Yannetti’s claim was completely misrepresented. Yannetti plans to utilize the letters as evidence to advocate for Karen Read’s innocence. Yannetti confidently stated that they possess and have thoroughly examined the eight letters. These letters hold significant influence and cannot be disregarded.
They are currently utilizing the content of these letters and plan to employ them as compelling evidence to bolster their motion for sanctions against the prosecution. According to a report by 25 Investigates on Friday, federal officials have expressed no objection to the release of the letters.
