By Chris Caesar
Though not illegal, a phone call by then Rep. Ed Markey on behalf of a lobbyist pursuing a contract with the University of Massachusetts is under scrutiny this week.
Markey called university President Robert L. Caret in February to dispel rumors he had a strained relationship with the firm's President and former Markey congressional aide Stephen Tocco, The Boston Globe reported.
Caret told the Globe he felt no pressure during the call, which Markey said was made at Tocco's request to ensure his firm wasn't "harmed by something that was untrue" during the bidding process.
“I made it crystal clear I wanted the decision to be made exclusively on the merits,’’ Markey told the Globe.
However, at least one public integrity group said the call was "wrong" to make, if not strictly illegal.
Readers, what do you think? Was the call inappropriate, or was Markey right to clear the air with school officials about the rumor?
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