A Friday bombshell reverberates

Lots of people, I'm sure, on whatever local website they clicked Friday morning went "Whoa."

A week after The Day ran its positive piece on Glenn Marshall, the head of the tribe pushing for casinos in Massachusetts, The Cape Cod Times broke the story (plucked from their own archives) that Marshall had been convicted of rape over twenty years ago. And he's lied about his military record. He'll be (by the sound of it, only temporarily) stepping down as head, letting the vice chairman take over.

The Times has a follow-up today:

"The main thing is the credibility of Glenn Marshall," said Stephen Bingham, one of four tribe members who were shunned earlier this year after suing the tribe in Barnstable Superior Court as part of an effort to examine its finances. "Why did this information just come out?"

The deception is part of a deeper problem in the tribe and raises questions about Marshall's other activities as the tribe's point man in dealings with investors and the towns of Mashpee and Middleboro, Bingham said, adding that the shunned members had already passed concerns about the tribe's finances along to federal and state authorities.

A separate piece has a New Bedford lawmaker saying the news will have little impact (The story also notes Gov. Patrick will make his decision after Labor Day, not by it, as previously indicated).

"The decision that we make in the Legislature and in the executive branch is going to be for gaming in the entire state as it relates to all possible opportunities, whether it be Indian tribes or private entities," said Rep. Canessa, who supports a casino and represents part of Middleboro. "The issue of gaming doesn't focus on one particular tribe."

Mr. Marshall has been a charismatic presence at the Statehouse for the past several years, always dressed casually, his white hair tied back in a pony tail. For most legislators, he is the face of the Mashpee Wampanoag.

The Day also has a follow-up piece.