Judge Rules DiMasi Can Keep His Pension

Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Janice Sanders has ruled that former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, found guilty on corruption charges this month, can continue to collect his pension.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, on behalf of Treasurer Steve Grossman, had asked Sanders to allow the state Retirement Board, which Grossman chairs, to put DiMasi's payments in an escrow account until his sentencing.

Grossman says he'll abide by Sanders' decision, but says he did the right thing in trying to stop the payments.

"I continue to believe it's appropriate to act any way that we think is both appropriate and responsible to prevent individuals from collecting a pension once they've been convicted of crimes related to their office,"  Grossman said.

DiMasi is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

Grossman said once DiMasi is sentenced, he will ask the board to stop the pension payments.