Rep. Tierney Responds To Illegal Offshore Gambling Accusations

04:44

July 03, 2012

Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass. testifies at a hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's wrongful fining of New England fisherman June 20, 2011. (AP)

Democrat John Tierney is trying to hold onto his newly re-drawn 6th District Congressional seat on the North Shore, but he's got two problems: one is an energetic Republican challenger, former state Sen. Richard Tisei. The other is his own family.

Tierney's brothers-in-law, Robert and Daniel Eremian, allegedly ran an illegal Internet gambling business. Robert is now a fugitive, and Daniel was sentenced to three years behind bars last week for gambling and racketeering charges.

The plot thickened when, following his sentencing, Daniel Eremian said of Congressman Tierney, "He knew everything that was going on. He sat in the boxes with bookies at Fenway Park.”

After dodging the press for days, Congressman Tierney chose today, the afternoon before a holiday, to face the cameras in his hometown of Salem and respond.

Guests:

Curt Nickisch, WBUR reporter

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This segment aired on July 3, 2012.