Massachusetts lawmaker

State Representative Christopher Flanagan, a Democrat representing the First Barnstable District, currently faces a federal superseding indictment unsealed in May 2026. He is charged with eight counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, one count of falsifying records, and three counts of filing false tax returns. Prosecutors allege that from 2021 to 2024, while serving as executive officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, Flanagan embezzled over $44,000 to cover personal expenses, including mortgage payments, credit card debt, and psychic services. He is also accused of using stolen funds to support his 2022 campaign and falsifying expense reports to conceal his activities. Separately, in 2024, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance fined Flanagan $15,000 for using an alias to hide the source of campaign mailers. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in office.