DeLeo on probation: 'There was never a quid pro quo' - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) --After a probation trial Wednesday, House Speaker Robert DeLeo blasted claims by federal prosecutors that allege he traded jobs for favors or votes to help secure his bid to become speaker in 2009.

DeLeo called the accusations that there was some kind of arrangement "inaccurate and inflammatory." He says after years of looking, the feds have never charged him with any crime.

When FOX 25 Political Reporter Sharman Sacchetti asked the speaker if he swapped jobs for votes, he responded emphatically, "no."

He went on to say he has "made it clear throughout the past many times I've ever been asked. It's never been done and anyone who has said that it's been done is being completely untruthful. It's never been done. Never was done. It has never been done."

John O'Brien, former probation commissioner, and his two top deputies are accused of rigging the agency's hiring system to boost politically connected applicants in return for favorable treatment from lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Charley Murphy, former ways and means chair, testified that during the recession DeLeo told him not to touch probation's budget.

DeLeo said, "I have no memory of that. I will tell you that during the recession probation was treated just like everyone else. There were some budgets that may have been treated differently because of maybe the difference being the fact of the difficulties in public safety."

Sponsor lists reportedly show DeLeo made 52 recommendations to probation.

He says he never recommended anyone he believed wasn't qualified.

When Sacchetti asked if he believed current and former lawmakers called to testify, as well as federal prosecutors, were lying, he said, "I don't believe there's been one lawmaker who has stated that they were told that they were going to get a job if they voted for Bob DeLeo for speaker."

He added, "There has not been one lawmaker who stated that they were promised a job for a vote."

Republican candidate for Governor Charlie Baker accepts the speaker's explanation, but notes the trial shows the problems with one party rule.

"I actually think we should take people at their word when they speak in public," Baker said. "But, I certainly believe having followed this trial that there are plenty of examples of what appear to be, people getting jobs they weren't qualified for. And again I come back to my fundamental point, this is what you get when you have one team on the field, one party rule on Beacon Hill."

This is a particularly sensitive topic here in Massachusetts given that the three previous house speakers were all indicted.

DeLeo is not charged with any crime. He said he has not been asked to testify at the trial.