The Massachusetts House of Representatives has received a subpoena from federal prosecutors investigating state Senator Brian A. Joyce, a sign of the sweeping nature of the inquiry into whether the Milton Democrat has illegally used his public office for personal gain.
The Globe reported last month that the Senate had received a subpoena, meaning both chambers of the Legislature have been pulled into the inquiry of the longtime legislator's practices.
A lawyer, Joyce has been the subject of a series of Boston Globe articles detailing ways he allegedly used his position as a senator to benefit himself and his law practice. He has not been charged with a crime.
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In response to questions about prosecutors' investigation into Joyce, the House's chief legal counsel, James C. Kennedy, said in a statement that the House "received a grand jury subpoena from the United States attorney's office requesting certain records relating to an ongoing investigation of a member of the Senate. The House of Representatives is cooperating fully with the United States attorney's office."
Kennedy said no member of the House has been subpoenaed, "nor is any member of the House of Representatives a target of this investigation."
He said the US attorney's office has asked the House to refrain from discussing the details of its investigation, so the House would have no further comment.
Lawmakers, poised to begin a flurry of last-minute legislative activity before their summer recess begins in August, fret that the investigation is casting a pall over their work.
"It's bad for both chambers and it also hangs a negative light over all elected officials in Massachusetts," said one state representative who declined to be named.
Joyce's Canton law office was raided in February by federal agents, who removed dozens of boxes during their hours there.
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An FBI spokeswoman said at the time that the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service were "conducting court-authorized activity in connection with an ongoing investigation."
The Globe has reported that since February, officials in communities Joyce represents, including Milton and Randolph, have been subpoenaed, either for records or to appear before a federal grand jury sitting in Boston.
Through his lawyer, Joyce has insisted that he has done nothing wrong and denied using his elected office for personal gain.
Joyce is not running for reelection.
Andrea Estes of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jm_bos. Click here to subscribe to his weekday e-mail update on politics.