State Sen. Joyce dodges questions about resignation amid FBI investigation

BOSTON — State Senator Brian Joyce made his return to Beacon Hill Thursday for the first time since the FBI and IRS raided his law office.

Joyce spent a week away from the Statehouse after the raid, and on his first day back he ducked questions from FOX25's Sharman Sacchetti while walking in and left through a side door.

The Democrat from Milton announced his decision not to run for re-election this fall, but has made no indication that he will resign.

“I think that he needs to think about resigning and I think that’s a decision that needs to be made by he and his constituents,” Republican State Sen. Bruce Tarr said.

Calls for Joyce to step down are starting to grow louder in the wake of new information about an FBI raid at his Canton law office a week ago.

Democrats, including Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, are still calling for due process.

“We are awaiting a response from the federal government as to whether any actions need be taken. That's really all I can say,” Rosenberg said.

The Boston Globe is reporting that federal prosecutors are looking at Joyce's role in a solar project at Stonehill College in Easton as part of an investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing.

The paper reported Joyce pushed bills to make it easier for clean energy projects like Stonehill's to link to electric utilities' power lines.

In a statement, Stonehill told FOX25 they don't know why the company that installed its solar panels, Solect, is under investigation.

A spokesman said "it is our understanding that Solect Energy, under the guidance of its consultant, Power Management, hired Brian Joyce as its legal representative for a solar field project utilizing land owned by Stonehill in 2013. The college was in no way involved in that decision, has never retained Joyce, and has never paid him for any services."

The town of Easton confirmed to FOX25 that it too has been served a subpoena.

Joyce has also come under fire in the last year for campaign finance problems, for an arrangement that got him free dry cleaning and also for buying gold plated sunglasses for all 40 senators.

FOX25 reached out to Joyce's public relations contact but she did not return a request for comment.

Cox Media Group