THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 18, 2022 Page 5 RESNEK| FROM PAGE 1 paign. “Has he provided you with advice about how to defeat Mr. DeMaria?” asked Atty. Robbins. “He provides a lot of suggestions. That doesn’t mean I listen to them. Sure,” replied Capone, “he offers a lot of information about a lot of things; not necessarily relevant to anything.” As part of the subpoena, Capone was ordered to turn over all communications, such as emails and cell phone texts, to the mayor’s attorneys – many, according to Atty. Robbins, have yet to be submitted. Establishing the relationship between Resnek and Capone, in one of the exhibits discussed was a screen shot of a text between the two, believed to be after the September primary, where Resnek characterizes Gerly Adrian as “a bum.” “Mr. Resnek texts to Capone, ‘A reckoning is certain,’ which was answered by Capone, ‘Can only hope. Thank you for your attempt to get Gerly activated. Another lost cause though.’ When asked for the meaning of his text with Resnek, Capone explained that after Gerly lost in the primary she disappeared. Capone stated that he had hoped that Adrian would swing her supporters to his campaign, but it never happened. Resnek, in his text then replied to Capone, “She has shown herself to be a bum.” Capone replied, “I kinda knew that from the start. Had she advanced he would have buried her.” So that’s what a campaign account is for The questioning turned to the Massachusetts campaign finance laws, of which Capone stated he was knowledgeable, particularly the limitations on contributions and the obligation to report certain contributions – which were supposed to be made on a monthly basis during the campaign. It was also important to note that during a campaign a candidate could not draw funds from a personal account; only through an authorized campaign account. Unfor tunately for Capone, he admitted, he didn’t know that when he announced his candidacy and used his personal credit card to make campaign expenditures for what he claimed were multiple direct mailings, to what he admitted to be approximately $30,000. Capone stated that he then reported his infraction to the state’s Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF) after the 2021 general election. Atty. Robbins questioned Capone about a letter dated March 31, 2022, from the Mass. OCPF which stated that he inquired on November 8, 2021, after the general election, about how to report activity outside of a depository campaign account; and that between August 4, 2021, and November 2, 2021, he had spent a total of $32,463.46 on miscellaneous campaign expenses with his own funds, all outside of the depository system of disclosure, according to the letter. I know nothing! – I see nothing! When asked if he ran ads in the Everett Leader Herald on a fairly regular basis, Capone stated that he didn’t recall and wasn’t sure of the frequency. Yet throughout the campaign of 2021, ads for Capone appeared on an almost regular basis in the Leader Herald leading up to November’s general election. When shown his OCPF Search Expenditures dated from February 13, 2021, to May 13, 2022, the amount totaled $72,495.34 in expenditures, which includes newspaper advertising with Dorchester Publications (Leader Herald), Advocate Newspapers and Independent Newspaper Group. When tallied up, Advocate Newspapers was paid approx. $7,000 for advertising; the Independent approximately $3,000 and the Leader Herald a paltry $315. “Were there ads that were run for you in the Leader Herald at any point during your mayoral campaign that you did not pay for?” asked Robbins. “Not that I’m aware of,” replied Capone. The question turned to Resnek’s communications to Capone of his mission to defeat the mayor. Capone agreed that Resnek certainly indicated that to him because, to Resnek, the mayor’s defeat could be construed as “a personal issue” against the mayor. When he was asked if he ever spoke to Resnek about his issues with the mayor, Capone claimed he had a “healthy mistrust of the media of all sorts” and wanted to minimize any communication and exposure. Your generosity is killing me The questioning returned to the subject of newspaper ads, particularly in the Leader Herald purchased by supporters. Capone said he wasn’t aware of any until he was shown a text exchange between himself and Resnek stating, “Mike Marchese has bought a full-page ad endorsing you this week. Let’s talk about this.” Capone said he was aware of it but said it was a fullpage ad for Marchese, who was seeking reelection to the City Council. “He’s a candidate. He just stuck my name on it. I’m endorsing it, but it was his political ad,” said Capone. The October 7, 2021, political ad in question, which states at the bottom of the page as being paid by the Marchese Committee, displays Marchese’s photo at the top and states at the top of the page, “Mike Marchese Councilor-at-Large” and has a headline below stating, “Mayor Employs Criminal Attorney For What?” in large bold, RESNEK | SEE PAGE 10 Everett Pride My family and I would like to sincerely thank the people of Everett for their loyal support on Nov. 8 Election Day. I am grateful and proud to serve our great city at the State House aggressively representing the taxpayers, schools, senior citizens, and the community-at-large. Your continued loyal support in November was deeply appreciated. State Senator Sal DiDomenico & Family (Pol. Adv. Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Sal DiDomenico)
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