Gov. Baker calls threat allegations against state worker ‘unbelievably disturbing’

Republican Governor Charlie Baker said Thursday he finds “unbelievably disturbing” allegations by a state worker that she was threatened with retaliation after her fiancé, a Democrat, launched a campaign against a sitting GOP state senator.

Baker told reporters the claims, reported Thursday in the Boston Herald, came to the attention of his office about 10 days ago. (A Baker aide later said Baker misspoke and the governor’s legal office and the governor were actually made aware of initial allegations in June.) Baker said his office told the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, where the employee, Cynthia Lewis, works, to conduct an investigation.

“The allegations are extremely troubling, and we want to see what comes out of that investigation,” Baker said. “We expect it will be done soon and we will act accordingly.”

Baker, voice anguished, said, “No one in our administration should ever, ever threaten anybody {for} engag{ing} in civic endeavors as a private citizen. Period. And I take that type of allegation really seriously.”

Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/09/22/baker-calls-threat-allegations-unbelievably-disturbing/ukcUE5XW8ohiITZ7KmPPXN/story.html