Accused Wilkerson Won't Resign From State Senate

Massachusetts State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, D-Boston, is defying a request from her colleagues that she resign from office.

In an e-mailed statement from her campaign, Sen. Wilkerson says the Senate's request is unreasonable.

"Surely the members of the state Senate could not have believed that such a monumental decision would be made within a few hours," the statement said.

Wilkerson added a decision like this "could be comforting to some, but could prove disastrous to others."

Wilkerson's most recent troubles came to light Tuesday, when FBI agents arrested her on public corruption charges.

On Thursday, in addition to the request to resign, the Senate voted to strip her of her committee chairmanship and relieved her from all of her committee assignments.