Using his Fifth Amendment rights Friday, William Bulger, brother of Boston fugitive James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, refused to answer any questions regarding his relationship with his missing brother by the congressional committee investigating the case.
In a press conference following the 15-minute hearing, William Bulger’s lawyer, Thomas Kiley said Bulger invoked his constitutional rights under the advice of legal advisors and to protect himself from ‘governmental excess.’
‘The appalling treatment my client has received will be exacerbated if his decision to exercise his constitutional protections is distorted and described as something that it isn’t,’ Kiley said.
Referring to the government law enforcement personnel as abusive, Kiley added Bulger’s decision was also based on authorities who he said had been ‘severely chastised for their shortcomings’ seeking ‘revenge’ against Bulger.
‘If they cannot have one Bulger, they will have any Bulger,’ Kiley said. ‘If they cannot have James, William or John will do. The absence of transgression is immaterial. What matters most is settling a score.’
During the questioning, Kiley also acknowledged the effect the hearing would have on William Bulger as president of the University of Massachusetts. Kiley said he did not believe the speculation over the possibilities of Bulger resigning from his presidency or facing negativity from his staff and students would be a problem.
‘We believe he is an honest man, and anyone considering him would consider him so,’ he said. ‘A former governor of and United States attorney for Massachusetts this week described my client as ‘a man of honesty, integrity, compassion and strong character’ – and he is that.’
Members of the congressional committee expressed disappointment in William Bulger’s refusal to speak, emphasizing their quest for the truth behind Whitey Bulger’s whereabouts.
Chairman of the congressional committee and U.S. Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said while he understood William Bulger’s loyalty to his brother, it is more important to serve the greater good.
The committee added that the efforts to shed light on the truth would continue.
‘We need to do this right,’ said committee member and Sixth District Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem).
Burton and the committee also said cleaning up the FBI and provoking the public’s trust in the government would help the case.
‘We have to have trust in the FBI and local and state law enforcement,’ he said. ‘I would recommend looking into any vehicle we can employ to clean up this mess.’
Additionally, members of the congressional committee recommended achieving immunity for William Bulger encourage him to testify.
The FBI has been searching for Whitey Bulger since 1995, with intentions to charge him for extortion, drug dealing and 22 murders. In a 2001 secret testimony before a federal grand jury, William Bulger testified claimed his last conversation with his brother occurred five years before, according to the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. William Bulger received immunity from prosecution from the testimony.
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