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By Kelly Garrity FINAL SAY — The fate of some of the most closely watched ballot questions could be decided by lawmakers who loathe them. Faced with the likelihood that widely popular initiatives that would end MCAS as a high school graduation requirement (Question 2) and allow the auditor to audit the Legislature (Question 1) could pass, legislative leaders yesterday left open the possibility of modifying or repealing both. “Being no fan of making laws by ballot initiative after seeing how screwed up the marijuana thing got, I haven’t made up my mind yet,” House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters at the State House yesterday when asked about the possibility of repealing Question 1. “We’ll see how big the margin is.” “We'll see what course it takes,” Senate President Karen Spilka said of Question 1 during a separate scrum across the hall. “But right now, we are focused on getting our bills done, getting the work of the people done.” They also voiced concern about the possibility of ending the MCAS graduation requirement and struck a similar wait-and-see note when asked about amending or repealing Question 2 if voters give it the green light. But the prospect didn’t land well with Max Page, the president of the state’s largest teachers union backing the ballot campaign. “The State House is not Ron Mariano's house or Karen Spilka's house — the speaker and senate president should refrain from crossing the will of the people,” Page fired back in a statement. Ballot questions give voters their most direct chance to weigh in on policy. But state law gives lawmakers the final say on whether to rewrite or repeal them. Massachusetts is one of 11 states (of the 21 that allow residents to bring issues to the ballot) that doesn't restrict lawmakers’ ability to edit the petitions that pass, according to the online political encyclopedia Ballotpedia. Neither Spilka nor Mariano said they’re currently laying out plans to block ballot questions that win voters’ support from becoming law – they just didn’t shoot down the idea. Recent polls show overwhelming support for Question 1, and the “yes” side is running ahead of “no” in surveys of support for Question 2. Bucking the will of people whose votes you need to keep your job is typically considered high-risk. But not so much in Massachusetts, where few voters have an alternative on their ballot. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. With 13 days until the election, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is out with two new digital ads. In one of the 30-second spots, titled “Proud ,” Warren touts her record, highlighting federal funds she helped win for the Cape Cod bridges. In the second, “Just One Vote,” Warren reprises a message she hammered during the debates against her Republican challenger, John Deaton. “Just one vote and just one senator could put Republicans in control of the United State Senate,” Warren narrates. Neither of the ads, which will run on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, mentions Deaton, who polls show is trailing Warren by a significant margin. Warren’s campaign declined to share the size of the spend. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey participates in a fireside chat at Liquid AI’s launch event at 11 a.m. in Cambridge and joins former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for an event promoting her new book at 7 p.m. in Cambridge. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends a MassTech innovation challenge event at 9:30 a.m. in Springfield; speaks at a national disability employment awareness month celebration at 11 a.m. and chairs a Governor’s Council meeting at noon at the State House; and attends a ribbon cutting for a veterans support center in Millbury at 3 p.m. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends a ribbon cutting for Gomez & Martinez, LLC at 4 p.m. in Lawrence. Rep. Richard Neal announces federal funding for Western New England University at 11 a.m. in Springfield. Rep. Seth Moulton visits LEO Inc. at 1:30 p.m. in Lynn and celebrates the groundbreaking of the McPherson Youth Center renovation project at 3 p.m. in Beverly. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me: kgarrity@politico.com   A message from Johnson & Johnson: We’re restoring the true meaning of healthcare—Innovating more precise, less invasive surgery and improving recovery. See how we’re connecting the best of Health&Care for every patient and provider. Learn more.   FROM THE DELEGATION — “‘Trying to curry favor’: Lobbyists on tax matters hired Richard Neal’s son,” by Benjamin Guggenheim, POLITICO Pro: “After three decades representing his home of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the U.S. House, Democratic Rep. Richard Neal reached the goal of his lifetime in January 2019: He took the gavel of the House Ways and Means Committee, with far-reaching powers to shape the nation’s tax code. A year later, his 45-year-old son Brendan Neal launched a one-person public affairs firm dedicated to ‘political advice, lobbying, and strategic communications.’ “Then the payments started: $4,425, almost always on the 13th of each month, from Richard E. Neal for Congress Committee to Brendan Neal Strategies for ‘strategic consulting services.’ The payments were bumped to $4,630 in 2024 and have continued through this August, totaling $196,340. Brendan Neal’s lobbying work, however, started before his firm received money from his father’s campaign.” DATELINE BEACON HILL — “For the first time since the pandemic, student enrollment increases in state college system,” by Carrie Jung, WBUR: “Higher education enrollment in Massachusetts is up for the first time in years thanks in part to free community college programs, according to state education officials. Student enrollment in the Massachusetts higher education system increased by 6.5% between the fall of 2023 and 2024. Enrollment at Massachusetts 15 community colleges grew by 14% over the last year.” POWER PLAYS — The Senate is expected to take up a long-awaited compromise climate and energy bill today, but it’s unlikely to make it through without delay. Republican State Sen. Ryan Fattman says he is likely to doubt the presence of the quorum if the bill does come up during today’s informal session, which — unless Democrats call in enough members — would prevent the bill from passing. Fattman cited concerns about the quick turnaround lawmakers had to review the compromise that was filed late Monday. “I have no problem when there's less impactful or local legislation that is being allowed to go through, but this is a fairly large policy change that was released at 10 p.m. [Monday] night, that I don’t think most members of the Legislature have even read,” he told Playbook. And ultimately, he said, a bill this big should be taken up in a formal session, where it could face a roll call vote. “The legislature shouldn't be operating where just a few people are making the decisions out of 200 elected representatives of the people, especially right before an election. … It needs more time, and it needs more transparency.” FROM THE HUB — “Boston residents, businesses say Mass and Cass conditions have spread, worsened in parks and neighborhoods,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Residents and business leaders slammed the open-air drug use, public sex and violence they said has worsened in surrounding neighborhoods since tents were cleared at Mass and Cass, in stark contrast from the progress cited by the Wu administration. The public testimony came at a Tuesday City Council hearing on a measure put forward by Councilor Ed Flynn, who is pushing for a new plan to address the crowding, drug dealing and filth that returned in full force this past summer to the troubled intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.” PAYWALL FOR BOSTON HERALD RAG TRY THIS: Neighbors ask Boston to consider mandatory drug treatment to address Mass and Cass crisis BOSTON 25 NEWS — “Tempers flare: Boston city councilor, Wu staffer get into Twitter beef over tax plan,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald. BALLOT BATTLES — “Massachusetts restaurants bring Question 5 debate to the dinner table,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “At a number of bars and restaurants around the state, the check comes with a political message. At Lolita in Fort Point, receipts are printed with bold font at the top encouraging customers to vote ‘no’ on Question 5, which would progressively phase out the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers and allow the expansion of tip pooling to back-of-the house workers, like cooks and dishwashers. At Fiorella’s Cucina in Concord, signs outside make the restaurant’s position clear, and customers receive ‘No on 5’ pamphlets at the host stand.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — “Mayors race: Beauregard vs. Sarcione,” by Teddy Tauscher, The Eagle-Tribune: “With the deadline to return nomination papers to run for mayor passed, voters now have a clear picture of the candidates. City Councilor and Acting Mayor D.J. Beauregard will face off against businessman and entrepreneur Jim Sarcione. The election, set for Dec. 10, was triggered after the unexpected passing of the late Mayor Neil Perry last month. The race’s winner will serve for the remainder of Perry’s term which concludes at the end of next year.”   A message from Johnson & Johnson:   PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “North Adams Mayor tells Airport Commission to rescind lease awarded to Michael Milazzo for airport hangar,” by Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle: “Mayor Jennifer Macksey's letter to the commission is a strong intervention from Macksey, who has mostly kept her distance from the issue of the Harriman-and-West Airport hangar — and Michael Milazzo's proposal after alleging causing the initial damage to the hanger — until this point.” YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS — “12% of Mass. voters have already cast their ballots,” by Amy Gorel, WBUR: “More than 80,000 Massachusetts voters cast their ballots in this year's presidential election during the first weekend of early voting. In addition, more than half a million residents have submitted mail-in ballots so far, according to the secretary of state's office. By Monday evening, local election clerks reported that about 12% of registered voters had participated in the general election.” — “Trump 2024 sign still in the spotlight in Hanson,” by Kiera McDonald, The Boston Globe: “A Hanson resident has stopped projecting a Trump 2024 sign onto the town’s water tower since receiving a cease-and-desist letter on Oct. 12, but has not agreed in writing not to do it again, the Select Board said Tuesday night. As a result, the town will continue to keep measures in place to ensure the image does not appear on the tower, according to the statement.” FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Democratic state Reps. Jeff Roy, Ted Philips and James Arena-DeRosa are endorsing Kevin Kalkut, according to his campaign, in his bid to oust their Republican colleague, state Rep. Marcus Vaughn, in the 9th Norfolk District. DAN SULLIVAN HAS NEVER HELD ELECTED OFFICE, DEFEATED IN HIS BID FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE....REPEATING RIGHT WING RHETORIC ABOUT THE FAILURE TO CODIFY ROE V WADE INDICATES HIS SUPERFICIAL COMPREHENSION OF THE ISSUE. COMMENTING ON POLICIES IN EUROPE IGNORES THAT EUROPE BOASTS EASY ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING & FREE BIRTH CONTROL....IT'S CALLED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.  QUESTIONING WIND ENERGY INDICATES HIS FAILURE TO REVIEW INFORMATION FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES. BOASTING ABOUT REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENTS IS MEANINGLESS SINCE IT APPEARS REPUBLICANS WILL ENDORSE ANYTHING & ANY BODY!  — “For Congress, U.S. Rep. Bill Keating faces challenger Dan Sullivan, a working nurse,” by Anastasia E. Lennon, The New Bedford Light.  REPUBLICAN MATTHEW MURATORE RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE "R" CANDIDATES.....STATE REP. MATTHEW MURATORE....MAKING FALSE & UNINFORMED STATEMENTS! MATTHEW MURATORE STOOD WITH CRYPTO CARPETBAGGER JOHN DEATON & BLAMED SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN FOR THE FAILURE TO REPLACE THE CAPE COD BRIDGES....WHEN IN FACT TRUMP SLASHED FUNDING FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THEN INSTRUCTED THE MAGA GOP MORONS TO DEFEAT THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL - MOST GENUFLECTED TO THE ORANGE TURD!  KOCH SOCK PUPPET SCOOTER BROWN WAS DEFEATED BY 2 WOMEN - IS THAT A RECORD? THE CARPETBAGGER WAS DEFEATED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE! REPUBLICANS STOOD WITH CRYPTO CARPETBAGGER JOHN DEATON AT HIS PHOTO OP LYING ABOUT SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUNDING DELAY FOR THE CAPE COD BRIDGES.....MASSACHUSETTS DOES NOT NEED MORE MAGA LYING REPUBLICANS! "R" VOTERS NEED TO SCRUTINIZE THEIR RECORDS!  On the other side of the aisle, former Ambassador and past Bay State Sen. Scott Brown joined state Rep. Mathew Muratore — one of two GOP candidates vying for the seat — for a fundraiser last month, where he endorsed the Plymouth Republican. — “Muratore and Fernandes prioritize their goals in Cape, Plymouth race,” by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times. — “Harris vs. Trump: How the election could affect health care in Mass.,” by Susannah Sudborough, MassLive.  — “Here’s where wealthy Mass. donors are sending their money in the 2024 election,” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe.  FROM THE 413 — “Pittsfield city councilors urge school administrators to establish new, improved methods for staff input,” by Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Brookline police probing swastika stickers posted in Coolidge Corner area, officials say,” by Camilo Fonseca, The Boston Globe. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Molly Drennan and Annika Lichtenbaum. Happy belated to Stephanie Cutter and Naysa Woomer, who celebrated Tuesday; Will Baldwin, who celebrated Monday; and Robert Pinsky, who celebrated Sunday.   A message from Johnson & Johnson: At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured; treatments are smarter and less invasive; and solutions are personal. We are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum, of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow. We combine our science and technology with our determination to create a powerful force for care… and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more.   Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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State Democratic Party members irked by choice of investigator 

BY MICHAEL CONNORS

PUBLISHED 9/10/2020

HOLYOKE — After former state Sen. Cheryl Jacques was tapped by Democratic State Committee leaders to investigate allegations that state Democratic Party higher-ups meddled in the 1st Congressional District primary election, at least 70 committee members are urging officials to reconsider this decision — arguing that Jacques is too entrenched in the party to be truly independent.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Democratic State Committee leaders that had been chosen to initiate the investigation, the DSC members argue that Jacques “can in no way conduct an independent investigation into our Party.”

Jacques, a Democrat who lives in Northampton, served from 1993 to 2004 in the state Senate and was an appointee of former Democratic governor Deval Patrick. The letter states Jacques worked as an adjunct professor in the same “department” at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as both U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who were the candidates in the Democratic primary election in question. Neal has taught in the Journalism department while Morse and Jacques have taught in the Political Science department at UMass Amherst, according to a university spokesman; both departments are part of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the university. Jacques is currently a lecturer in the management department.

Neal beat Morse in the election.

“This is not intended as a criticism of Senator Jacques or her qualifications, but rather a recognition that someone so deeply connected to Massachusetts Democratic politics and to UMass Amherst cannot conduct an independent investigation,” the letter reads.

Nancy Stenberg, of Easthampton, is one of the Democratic State Committee members living in the 1st Congressional District who signed on to Wednesday’s letter.

“I do not feel that the selection of Cheryl Jacques is an indication of an independent investigation,” Stenberg said. “She’s far too connected with the establishment Democrats.”

Allison Mitchell, the state Democratic Party communications manager, did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Jacques could not be reached by phone or in person Thursday.

In August, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, UMass Amherst’s student newspaper, published anonymous allegations that Morse had used his “position of power for romantic or sexual gain, specifically toward young students.” The allegations came in the form of a letter sent to Morse; the UMass Amherst College Democrats have since apologized to Morse for any homophobic attacks he may have suffered as a result of the letter becoming public, which they say was meant to remain private.

But reporting from the online news outlet The Intercept called these allegations into question after it published messages which appear to show UMass Amherst College Democrats leaders scheming to sink Morse’s campaign. Another story by The Intercept suggested that state party leaders worked behind the scenes with the College Democrats of Massachusetts on the letter with anonymous allegations. A third Intercept story alleged that the state Democratic Party’s executive director, Veronica Martinez, told student leaders to delete records of communications between them and the state party.

Many of the signatories on Wednesday’s letter also signed an August letter calling for an immediate and independent investigation into whether officials with the state Democratic Party had a role in “smearing” Morse.

The letter sent by state committee members on Wednesday argues that a “credible investigation can only be led by somebody with no prior history” with various Democratic players, including Gus Bickford, the chairman of the Democratic State Committee; Martinez; and Jim Roosevelt, a lawyer alleged to have been connected with student Democrats by the party for help with the initial letter.

Wednesday’s letter also calls for the investigator to have the power to use forensic tools that can retrieve call logs and deleted or encrypted messages after reporting described an “alleged attempted cover-up by Party officials.”

“We will struggle to improve public perception of the Party and maintain the trust of our local Democratic committees and grassroots activists,” the letter reads. “For these reasons we urge you to reconsider your selection, and to empower a truly independent investigator to find the truth.”

Stenberg suggested that officials should consider hiring someone that’s “more along the lines” of what UMass Amherst did for their own review into the anonymous Morse allegations; the university has retained Natashia Tidwell, a partner at the Boston law firm Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr.

“We certainly were very clear when we sent out that first letter … that we were looking for an investigator who is independent of the Democratic Party,” Stenberg said. “And Cheryl Jacques is not independent of the Democratic Party.”

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.

LINK

Richard Neal spent $4,313,912.29

 

Defeating Richard Neal was always going to be a major feat.

He is the number one recipient of corporate PAC money in all of Congress and as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he wields an enormous amount of power in the halls of Congress. In short, he’s one of the most powerful elected officials in America.

Richard Neal spent over $4,000,000 this cycle to ward off Alex Morse. Here’s a screenshot of Neal’s latest FEC report:

This is why our fundraising is so important. We have to be able to support our insurgent candidates who go up against entrenched incumbents who have millions to spend on clinging onto their power.

We’re more hopeful than ever about the state of our movement. We’ve had three incredible victories this year and two more Justice Democrats have real shots at winning in November.

After a tough loss like Alex’s, it’s really important that our fundraising numbers are strong so we can support our candidates and show the establishment that our movement is growing.

Thank you for your support. Our work is only possible because of your dedication.

In solidarity,

Justice Democrats

Do not worry if you cannot afford to make a contribution — we understand that this is a difficult time. If you’re struggling, you can find a food bank here. We appreciate everything you do to keep our movement strong. Please stay informed and follow the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and your state public health department.

 

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 THE MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY conspired with TIMOTHY ENNIS because he needed a job. 

THE MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY needs to FIRE those responsible. 

American Reformers

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Young Democrats and College Democrats harbour the worst type of people. Soulless sycophants who’s only goal in politics is to “find a job”.

“he felt conflicted about involving the chapter of the College Democrats in a future attack on Morse. “But I need a job,” concluded Ennis. “Neal will give me an internship.” At the time, Ennis was president of the chapter, a post he held from April 2019 to April 2020, when he was term-limited out.”

THEINTERCEPT.COM

College Democrat Chats Reveal Plan to Engineer and Leak Alex Morse Accusation

COLLEGE DEMOCRAT CHATS REVEAL YEAR-OLD PLAN TO ENGINEER AND LEAK ALEX MORSE ACCUSATIONS

“This will sink his campaign,” predicted a College Democrat leader hoping to work for Rep. Richard Neal.

THE LEADERSHIP OF the University of Massachusetts Amherst College Democrats began discussing an operation they believed could sink the campaign of Alex Morse for Congress as far back as last October, a plan they then helped engineer and which came to fruition on Friday, after the College Democrats sent a letter regarding Morse to the Daily Collegian, the school’s student newspaper.

The letter, sent three weeks before his primary challenge to Rep. Richard Neal, informed Morse that he was no longer welcome at College Democratic events, alleging he used such opportunities to socialize with students and later connect with them on social media in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. Message logs obtained by the Intercept — both from leaders of the College Democrats UMass Amherst chapter group as well as chats one of them had with Morse — shed new light on how this purported scandal was deployed. As a condition of obtaining the logs, The Intercept agreed to publish some of the chats and paraphrase others.

On Wednesday, following a statement by Morse, the statewide College Democrats chapter clarified that he had in fact only attended a single event during the course of his campaign. It was after that event in October 2019 that the leadership of the UMass Amherst chapter began to talk about leaking a story damaging to Morse, according to those online communications.

Timothy Ennis, the chief strategist for the UMass Amherst College Democrats, admitted in the chats that he was a “Neal Stan” and said he felt conflicted about involving the chapter of the College Democrats in a future attack on Morse. “But I need a job,” concluded Ennis. “Neal will give me an internship.” At the time, Ennis was president of the chapter, a post he held from April 2019 to April 2020, when he was term-limited out.

Leaders of the College Democrats group went beyond merely plans to leak. They also explicitly discussed how they could find Morse’s dating profiles and then lead him into saying something incriminating that would then damage his campaign.

That effort appears to have failed to generate the material they hoped for, but the group’s leaders did believe they held damning evidence they contemplated leaking: Instagram messages between Morse and Andrew Abramson, who in April became president of the organization. Ultimately, the College Democrats did not release any chats or any other specific claims against Morse, opting instead to level broader charges that he behaved inappropriately. Morse, who was an adjunct professor at UMass Amherst until the fall of 2019, has acknowledged having consensual relationships with students but has said that he has never had an inappropriate relationship with a student of his, and no such allegations have been made.

On October 5, Morse attended a College Democrats event at a local community college. Neal also appeared, and was introduced by Ennis, who was at the time enrolled in a journalism class Neal taught at UMass Amherst. Neal later told Ennis he was impressed by the event, Ennis claimed in the chats. Morse sat on a panel with Abramson. After the event, Morse reached out to Abramson on Instagram to say it was a pleasure meeting. (The two had previously matched on Tinder, Ennis said in the chats, but had never met up. To match on Tinder means both parties must swipe in the same direction in order to begin a conversation.)

Photo: Obtained by The Intercept

Photo: Obtained by The Intercept

“Thank you! Good to see you too,” Abramson said.

“How’s the rest of your weekend?” asked Morse.

“Pretty good I went home last night to surprise my mom for her birthday hbu?” Abramson said .

“Aw that’s nice. How was that? I had an event to go to last night to speak, then had a wine tasting at a friends house. Now I’m in North Adams to march in a parade,” Morse replied.

Abramson shared a screenshot of the exchange with friends. “Not overt but it’s very clear he’s not talking to me for no reason,” he said. “Like read that message. Also don’t mind me totally leading him on.” He added that he accepted the message request “because why not.”

“This will sink his campaign,” Ennis said, calling it part of a pattern of Morse dating students. That conversation with Abramson appears to be connected to the charge that underlies the College Democrats’ statement against Morse, when they said that Morse “sought out students that he met at our events privately on social media, in a manner widely understood by our generation to indicate intimacy.”

After Ennis concluded the chats with Abramson would sink Morse’s campaign, the conversation between Morse and Abramson continued for another several weeks.

During that same time period, Ennis was a student in Neal’s “The Politician and The Journalist” class at UMass Amherst, and had been open with other members of the College Democrats about hoping to land a job with Neal, The Intercept reported Tuesday. Ennis, in the chats, quipped that perhaps he should leak the information by including it in a paper for Neal’s class.

Also last fall, Ennis was driving through New Hampshire with Clare Sheedy, a fellow College Democrat, as both were campaigning for Pete Buttigieg. “He spoke very highly of Mr. Neal,” Sheedy told The Intercept. “What he said to me was he wanted Neal to be his ‘in’ to politics and work his way up from there.”

Sheedy asked what he thought of Morse, and Ennis told him he is known for dating students and had recently matched on a dating app, Tinder, with a fellow College Democrat, and chatted with him via Instagram.

In a statement to MassLive on Monday, Neal spokesperson Kate Norton denied any collaboration between the Neal campaign and the student group, adding that the Neal campaign “commends these courageous students.” The College Democrats also responded to allegations of cooperation with the Neal campaign on Sunday, writing on Twitter, “To suggest that our decision to send the letter to Mayor Morse was a quid pro quo with Rep. Neal, his campaign, or anyone else is untrue, disingenuous, and harmful.”

Asked about Ennis and Abramson, Norton reiterated her earlier statement, but added: “The young men you are asking about have no involvement with the Neal campaign.”

In the chats, Ennis also floated the possibility of leaking allegations against Morse to Politico, and, indeed, in June, the College Democrats did so, pitching the story to Alex Thompson, a political reporter at the outlet. Thompson reached out to the Morse campaign as part of his reporting, though ultimately did not run the story until months later, after the college paper ran it.

Photo: Obtained by The Intercept

After receiving the inquiry, Morse said he reached back out to Abramson — the only student Morse had communicated with after a College Democrats event during his campaign. Morse said he apologized if his outreach had made the chapter president uncomfortable, and Abramson blocked him.

Ennis said in the chats that he had learned from people who had graduated previously that Morse was on Tinder, sharing a screenshot of a profile from the year before. The profile is standard, dating-app fare, and does not include Morse’s title as mayor of the nearby town of Holyoke, a position he’s had since he was 22, nor does it mention his time as an adjunct at UMass, which ended last fall.

Photo: Obtained by The Intercept

Ennis said in the chats that Morse had never matched with him or messaged him, but discussed an effort to find him and match. 

IN A STATEMENT that followed its initial letter, the College Democrats wrote, “The letter was written at the direct request of those affected by Mayor Morse’s behavior, and those individuals were involved in the writing process. The stories included in our letter are their stories. They have not spoken out individually about their personal experiences because they wish to remain anonymous.”

The implication that the letter was the collective work of the members of the chapter is false, however. It was written by leadership without input from the members, according to messages provided to The Intercept from the organization’s GroupMe chat. The day after the Daily Collegian published the letter, a member of leadership sent the following message: “Hello everyone. I’m sure some of you saw the article about Alex Morse and letter udems and other orgs sent to his campaign. I’m sure many of you are confused and even disappointed. If anybody needs support or wants to talk about it the udems eboard is here for you.”

A follow-up post included a link to the story. Five days later, specific allegations have yet to surface.

Abramson declined to comment, and neither Ennis nor the College Democrats responded to requests for comment. Daniel Marans of HuffPost contacted the College Democrats for further comment on Wednesday to ask whether or not their letter was motivated by Ennis’s or anyone else’s political ambitions, posting their response on Twitter.

The student group denied Ennis’s professional ambitions played a role in the crafting of the strategy. Marans also asked if Morse had indeed declined a request to fund the organization, as the mayor had told The Intercept on Tuesday. The organization offered HuffPost a selectively edited email regarding a donation from the Morse campaign, quoting the campaign as saying it would “get back to us shortly.” A copy of the full email was provided to The Intercept. It reads: “Hi Hayley — will get back to you shortly on sponsorship. We’ve been committing a great deal to COVID related organizations and want to make sure we honor those activities first. Sorry for delay.”