Mass. AG's office investigating Lawrence mayor over alleged illegal recording at City Hall

The Massachusetts attorney general's office is investigating the city of Lawrence amid allegations the mayor’s office was secretly recording conversations at City Hall.

On Monday, state police executed a search warrant in Mayor Brian DePeña's office, seizing equipment that was allegedly used to record audio.

Lawrence city attorney Timothy Houten said Wednesday the warrant was signed by a judge in Suffolk County, rather than Essex County, where Lawrence is located. The warrant was issued by the attorney general's office, Houten said.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office confirmed an investigation is underway.

The controversy began with a leaked tape that captured a heated argument between DePeña’s chief of staff and the city’s airport director. The chief of staff, former Lawrence Police Chief William Castro, is now out of a job. The airport director, Francisco Ureña, told WBUR he has hired an attorney but had no further comment.

City Council President Jeovanny Rodriguez said the recording could be the tip of he iceberg. He’s now asking how many audio recordings exist — and over what period of time they were recorded.

“This is LawrenceGate,” Rodriguez told WBUR.

DePeña claims he was unaware of the audio recordings and has hired a private firm to investigate. A spokesperson for the mayor's office declined to comment further.

The New England Police Benevolent Association, which represents Lawrence‘s two police unions, also has retained counsel and is calling for DePeña's resignation.