Rachael Rollins on the docket for Senate discussion
Rachael Rollins’ name is among the group up next for consideration before the U.S. Senate.
Rollins, the Suffolk District Attorney, was nominated in July to be the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, the top federal law enforcement position in the state.
She’s one of 14 nominees, including eight for U.S. Attorney slots, on the list for an “Executive Business Meeting” slated for 9 a.m. Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The hearing appears to be for planning purposes, and it’s not clear when Rollins might have a hearing, committee vote or full Senate vote.
In July, GOP Sen. Tom Cotton, one of the judiciary committee members, vowed to block Rollins’ nomination on grounds that she’s too far left.
Rollins’ district attorney’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Rollins was elected in 2018, and the often-brash DA has ruffled some feathers, particularly as she put out a list of crimes her office would generally decline to prosecute without there being more serious crimes.
She also triggered an ethics investigation last year when she got into a shouting match with a woman in a parking lot, and then threatened charges for a news crew who showed up at her house. The state attorney general’s office eventually cleared her in
She’s one of 14 nominees, including eight for U.S. Attorney slots, on the list for an ‘Executive Business Meeting’ slated for 9 a.m. Thursday.
the investigation.
Rollins, with Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, sued the feds over the presence of federal immigration agents in Massachusetts courtrooms, a move that put her at odds with Trump-appointed former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling — though Rollins and Lelling personally were on good terms and spoke regularly.
Among Rollins’ initiatives were dropping charges or seeking release for people convicted on questionable charges in cold cases.
Speculation has swirled about who might replace Rollins if she gets the big federal job. Gov. Charlie Baker gets to make the appointment, which is effective through the next election, which is next fall. Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty, a former Suffolk County assistant district attorney who led the at-large pack during last week’s preliminary election, is one name often mentioned in the mix. Another is Rollins’ stated preference: her second in command, Dan Mulhern.
Suffolk County covers Boston, Revere, Chelsea and Winthrop.