Mass. House Speaker's Friend Pleads Not Guilty

A friend of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has pleaded not guilty in an influence-peddling case.

Boston accountant Richard Vitale entered his plea Monday in Suffolk Superior Court. He is accused of using his friendship with DiMasi to shape ticket-scalping legislation.

Vitale has been free on personal recognizance.

Vitale's lawyer also succeeded in blocking prosecutors from releasing an 18-page summary of the case, which he said could prejudice the jury pool. Judge Peter Lauriat agreed, but said he would consider a much shorter summary if prosecutors want to submit it later.

Prosecutors say Vitale concealed his work as a lobbyist on behalf of ticket brokers and used his connections to DiMasi to win House approval of the legislation. The bill later stalled in the Senate.