Ethics Panel Finds State Senator Campaigned With Public Resources

The Senate Ethics Committee recommended Thursday that Sen. Dean Tran be physically separated from his staff and removed from his post as assistant minority whip, after the panel found that the Fitchburg Republican's State House staff did campaign work during regular business hours and using public resources.

The committee, in its 15-page report, said that Tran "received repeated advice" that it was "inappropriate for staff to do campaign work during regular Senate business hours and for staff to participate in most fundraising activities."

"Senator Tran did not take corrective steps at any point, disregarding the advice he had been given at multiple points in the last two years," the report said. "Instead, Senator Tran refused to change his practices and did not take responsibility for any wrong-doing, deflecting the blame to staff."

Tran joined the Senate after winning a 2017 special election and was re-elected the following year with 54 percent of the vote.