Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins to step away from role amid extortion charges, Gov. Healey says

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, who has been charged with extortion by federal prosecutors, will step away from his position "until the federal case against him is resolved," Gov. Maura Healey's office announced Wednesday.

Tompkins, 68, pleaded not guilty last week to charges that he extorted a local cannabis company. Prosecutors allege he used his position to pressure a cannabis executive to sell him $50,000 worth of stock before the company went public. When the shares crashed, Tompkins allegedly demanded his money returned.

A spokeswoman for Healey said the sheriff was stepping aside at the request of the governor and state Attorney General Andrea Campbell. They and other Democratic political leaders have come under increasing pressure — mainly from Republican political rivals — to persuade Tompkins to step down.

In a statement Wednesday, Healey called the allegations against Tompkins "serious" and said the sheriff's role is a "full-time job that demands full time attention."

"The people of Massachusetts need to be able to trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system and that their elected officials are fully engaged in the work of serving the public,” Healey wrote.

Healey's spokeswoman told WBUR that the governor's office was "made aware" Tompkins would take unpaid leave and that he would be applying for medical leave. If approved Tompkins would receive up to 20 weeks pay. The sheriff took home $191,000 last year and has earned nearly $125,000 so far this year.

Tompkins' lawyer, Martin Weinberg, said in a statement that the sheriff began leave Tuesday at the "strong recommendation" of his doctor.

"Sheriff Tompkins will use this time to meet the challenge resulting from a serious medical issue while he and I work to safeguard his freedom by preparing his defense to what we strongly contend is an unwarranted accusation," said Weinberg.

Weinberg did not specify the nature of the medical issue.

A spokesman for the sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors announced the charges against Tompkins on Aug. 8 after he was arrested by FBI agents in Florida.

Special Sheriff Mark Lawhorne will step into the elected role, consistent with state law, until the case against Tompkins is resolved, the governor's office said.

Tompkins resigned earlier this month as chair of the board of Roxbury Community College.

Tompkins has long been a fixture in Massachusetts Democratic circles. Many fellow party members have been slow to call for him to step down, despite calling for others Democrats to leave their posts amid misconduct allegations.

On Wednesday, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn told WBUR, “I support the sheriff in stepping away.”

Flynn denied rumors about his name being floated for the role, saying he is running for reelection to the council.

WBUR has reported that the company on the other side of the extortion allegations is Ascend Wellness, and the executive involved appears to have been longtime lobbyist Frank Perullo. Neither Ascend nor Perullo were named in the indictment against Tompkins.

In an interview Wednesday on WBUR's Morning Edition, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio discussed her recent audit of the state's Cannabis Control Commission. She said disorder and staff turnover at the oversight agency in recent years have invited potential favoritism and corruption in the regulation of the industry.