Second City Official Indicted on Extortion Charges

• Update: Second City Official Facing Extortion Charges Released on $25K Bond

The trouble isn't over at Boston City Hall, where a second member of Marty Walsh's administration has now been arrested under accusations of extortion related to the Boston Calling music festival.

City of Boston Chief of Staff of Intergovernmental Affairs Timothy Sullivan was arrested Wednesday morning, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz's office.

A grand jury indictment released by her office details claims against Sullivan that in large part amends the indictment handed down earlier this year against Kenneth Brissette, director of the city's Office of Tourism, to include Sullivan's name.

Sullivan is charged with two counts: extortion and conspiracy to extort Boston Calling's production company by withholding city permits and through "wrongful use of fear of economic harm."

According to that indictment, Sullivan and Brisette in 2014 pressured the company behind the Boston Calling music festival to hire union employees and withheld certain permits and approvals until the festival production company hired a handful of IATSE Locall 11 employees.

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In the wake of Brisette's arrest in May, Walsh spoke about Brisette's character, said he was "deeply concerned" by the news, and pledged to continue working with the U.S. Attorney's office.

Relatively circumspect then, Walsh came down harder in a statement following Sullivan's arrest Wednesday - treading the line between avoiding blame but condemning the alleged actions.

"I am deeply concerned about these allegations. It is a great privilege to serve in City Hall and I will not allow anyone to squander that privilege. I expect everyone to perform at the highest ethical standards. There is no room in my Administration for the type of behavior that is alleged here," he said.

Walsh said he has called for an "independent ethics training program" to be taken by all city department heads, and asked outside counsel to examine the way the events were conducted.

"We need to ensure that the right practices are in place and the right safeguards. We are having a panel of experts review how things are done and help improve policies," the statement said. "I will not pre-judge anyone's guilt or innocence. Nor will I tolerate anything less than the highest ethical standards."

In Brisette's original indictment, the feds made clear "at least one" other city employee took part in the alleged extortion. Sullivan appears to be that man. The question now is whether the saga ends here or, as critics eagerly predict, it swirls still closer to the mayor himself.

Patch will update this story.

>> City Hall photo by John Zacherle, Flickr/Creative Commons