Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has been ordered by a judge to produce evidence of her controversial “enemies list,” including related emails, which a judge agreed to use in a case against a North End restaurateur who stands accused of shooting at a business rival.
Ms. Wu may be required to produce the evidence in court and testify under oath, the Boston Herald reported.
What has come into question is how the owner of Monica’s Trattoria, Patrick Mendoza, ended up on Ms. Wu’s list. According to Mr. Mendoza’s attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio, the key questions relate to who generated the list and why it was sent to the Boston Police Department.
“I’m trying to get the information because it could be exculpatory to my client,” Scapicchio told the Herald in an interview. “Who decided it was a threat and what was the threat.”
The ruling on Aug. 4 states that Ms. Wu’s administration will have to turn over all communications related to the list, potentially shedding new light on unanswered questions by Ms. Wu.
The embattled mayor has received a lot of backlash since it emerged that she had compiled a list of more than a dozen of her most ardent critics before passing it onto local authorities, comparing the list to President Richard Nixon’s “enemies list.”
According to Ricardo Patron, a spokesman for Ms. Wu, the list was created in response to a request by the Boston Police Department.
It reportedly followed months of threats against the Mayor, who allegedly suffered harassment and physical intimidation outside her home, as well as at public events and city functions, by protesters who opposed Ms. Wu’s COVID-19 vaccination mandates for city employees, the Herald reported.
It was subsequently noted that the administration acknowledged compiling the document after the discovery of the list, which was provided to Ms. Wu’s opponents through a public records request, fueling concerns by critics that Ms. Wu and her administration may be attempting to quash criticism of her or intimidate vocal opponents.
Many of Ms. Wu’s critics have previously engaged in protests outside the Mayor’s home.
“The request (from police) came after many of the individuals on the list repeatedly impeded the Dorchester Day Parade to harass Mayor Wu and her family and staff, yelling through megaphones at her and her children for nearly ninety minutes as they marched in the parade despite being asked by parade organizers to leave the parade route,” Mr. Patron said, the Herald reported.
“Following the Dorchester Day Parade on June 5, 2022, Boston Police met with City staff on June 10 to make a safety plan for the upcoming Bunker Hill Day parade on June 12,” he added.
He said that the captain of the district overseeing Charlestown at the time asked for a list of individuals who had been involved in public disruption and harassment of the mayor at the Dorchester Day Parade and outside her house.
“The email was sent as a follow-up immediately after that meeting,” Mr. Patron added.
The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 24, by which time city officials are expected to provide further answers on the matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mendoza is currently being held in jail without bail under charges of assault with intent to murder.
NTD has reached out to Ms. Wu’s office.