Boston Lawyer Charged With Witness Tampering in Hate Crime Case

A Boston defense attorney is accused of offering the victim of a hate crime money and urging that he avoid cooperating with law enforcement authorities.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Wednesday that Timothy Flaherty was indicted on a charge of tampering with a witness to a possible federal civil rights case.

Federal prosecutors say Flaherty represented a man who was facing state civil rights charges for allegedly assaulting a man while yelling anti-Muslim slurs.

The indictment says Flaherty gave the victim $2,500 in cash and instructed him to ignore any state and federal prosecutors about the case.

Flaherty, a Cambridge resident, is the son of former Massachusetts House Speaker Charles Flaherty.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was released without bail. His lawyer declined to comment. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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