Tierney defends self against in-laws

SALEM – Standing alone at a podium Tuesday, U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem, addressed a variety of issues, including the “gifts ” his wife Patrice Tierney received from her brother, Robert Eremian, her guilty plea to federal charges, the regret he felt toward his constituents and his belief that Robert and Daniel Eremian _ both his brother-in-laws _ have claimed recently that he knew about their illegal gambling business because he wouldn’t make their charges “go away.”?Yes, I was aware that both of Patrice?s brothers had a checkered legal history and were involved in the gambling business in some capacity in the 1990s,” Tierney said. “But clearly, the court and the authorities who oversaw his legal situation thought Robert had turned his life around.”Tierney said he based that belief on the decision by Robert Eremian’s parole officer and an U.S. District Court judge to allow him to move to Antigua to run the online gambling business.Daniel Eremian blasted the congressman last week outside U.S. District Court in Boston, after a judge sentenced him to serve three years in federal prison for his part in a large-scale illegal offshore gambling operation.The convicted felon said Tierney “knew everything,” about his illegal gambling operation. Robert Eremian remains a fugitive from justice on numerous federal counts of racketeering and illegal gambling.Tierney also acknowledged his wife used money from Robert Eremian’s bank account to help “look after his teenage children who were still living here, but without either parent.”?She served as the de facto mother and primary caretaker for a family plagued by drug abuse, alcoholism and tragedy,” Tierney said in the press conference.Tierney acknowledged he had a “perception problem,” among voters who believe he knew or must have known what is brother-in-laws were doing.But he contended the work he has done during 16 years in Congress and in the district will ultimately serve him well, despite the controversy.?There are people out there who know us or who get to know us who will be very comfortable in believing me ? there are people who I won’t be able to satisfy no matter what,” he said.Read the complete story in Thursday’s Daily Item.