BOSTON — Massachusetts State Rep. David Nangle (D-Lowell) has stepped down from the committees he has served on and relinquished his leadership roles, according to an email obtained by Boston 25 News.
Nangle was arrested Tuesday and faces multiple federal charges of misusing campaign funds.
Prosecutors allege Nangle, 59, was an extensive gambler who used campaign funds to cover golf club dues, rental cars to get to and from casinos, and flowers for his girlfriend, among other things, according to an unsealed indictment.
Nangle was tight-lipped after pleading not guilty to 28 federal counts for allegedly using his campaign account to pay for more than $70,000 in personal expenses.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said Nangle is facing a laundry list of offenses, ranging from filing false tax returns to wire fraud dating back to 2014.
Nangle has served in the Massachusetts Legislature since 1999. He served on the House Committee on Rules, Joint Committee on Rules and the House Committee on Ethics.
In a statement to reporters, Nangle’s attorney Bill Connolly said: “Dave Nangle is a good man who has proudly represented his district as a State Representative… The charges against David are nothing more than allegations. We will fight these charges in court."
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Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday it’s “appropriate” for him to resign, but cautioned that the charges against him are allegations at this point.
“The charges are serious and as I said yesterday, I expect him to be fully investigated. I did hear earlier that Rep. Nangle had stepped down from his committee positions and his leadership positions and I think that’s appropriate,” Baker said.
The House clerk told Boston 25 News they did not receive a resignation letter from Nangle so while he withdrew from committees and leadership positions, he’s still a state rep.