Dems want Morse allegations probed

More than 50 members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee are calling for an immediate independent investigation into the state party’s potential involvement with the recent allegations against congressional candidate Alex Morse.

The Holyoke mayor, who’s running against U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, has been accused by three college Democrat student groups of acting inappropriately toward its members.

However, Morse in the last week has cited “evidence of a coordinated political smear” before the Sept. 1 primary.

Now, dozens of members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee are sounding the alarm — and are demanding an investigation before the primary two weeks away.

“Recent events and revelations regarding an intentional effort to influence the outcome of the Democratic Primary in Congressional District 1, by smearing Mayor Alex Morse, have raised concerns that members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee may have behaved unethically,” reads the letter signed by more than 50 state committee members.

“While Gus Bickford has pledged to investigate the issues ‘after the primary,’ his alleged involvement calls into question the ability of the party to investigate itself, and the role leadership may have played,” the letter continues. “Indeed the suggestion that the investigation should await the primary results so as not to affect them is ludicrous given the damage that has already been inflicted on Mayor Morse’s campaign by the actions of the Mass College Dems.”

The immediate investigation should be conducted by individuals outside the state party to “ensure independence and transparency,” the letter states.

The state committee has said it’s launching an independent review after the primary.

Bickford said the state party does not get involved in contested primaries.

“This race is no different,” he wrote. “We have set up a committee to initiate an independent review of the actions and decisions that led to the release of the letter by the College Democrats of Massachusetts. I am confident that this review will show that Party staff acted appropriately.”

UMass Amherst is looking into allegations from three college groups, most prominently the UMass Amherst College Democrats, who claimed the mayor’s actions “made young college students uncomfortable” through his actions and via social media.

Dozens of members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee are sounding the alarm — and are demanding an investigation before the primary two weeks away.