Karen Read found a new supporter in a MA state representative. Here's what he said
Karen Read has a new vocal supporter. And he's in the state legislature.
For the past two years, the Karen Read trial has captivated public attention.
Now, Read has a Massachusetts state representative advocating for her innocence in the state's case against her for the alleged murder of Boston police officer John O'Keefe, her boyfriend at the time.
State Representative Mike Connolly said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he got the chance to talk with protesting supporters of Read and referenced her defense lawyers, David Yannetti and Alan Jackson.
"FREE KAREN READ! JUSTICE FOR JOHN!" Connolly said. "I followed the trial very closely; I’m a big fan of Jackson and Yannetti, and I would have voted not guilty on all charges."
Who is Mike Connolly?
Mike Connolly is a Massachusetts state representative for the Massachusetts House of Representatives' 26th Middlesex district, representing parts of Somerville and Cambridge, and a Democrat.
Connolly is a self-identified progressive and democratic socialist. He recently endorsed Kamala Harris in the presidential race against Donald Trump.
The X post itself shows Connolly posing with Read supporters Tuesday morning.
FREE KAREN READ! JUSTICE FOR JOHN! During our recess from formal sessions at the State House today, I took a moment to connect with Karen Read supporters. I followed the trial very closely; I’m a big fan of Jackson and Yannetti, and I would have voted not guilty on all charges. pic.twitter.com/Pne1qgBtO0
— Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) July 30, 2024
Connolly did not reply to a request for comment.
Who are the other vocal supporters of Karen Read?
Much of the support for Read is from Massachusetts residents.
The other outspoken public figure advocating for Read is Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney, a blogger who is currently being prosecuted by the state for witness intimidation among other charges.
What's happening next in the Karen Read case?
On July 1, Read's case ended in a mistrial due to a split jury that couldn't decide between her innocence or her guilt in the death of O'Keefe.
Since the mistrial decision by Judge Beverly Cannone, Read's defense team has tried to get two of the three charges against her dismissed, specifically second degree murder charge and the charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Read is scheduled to stand trial for a second time in late January of next year.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Karen Read gets support from MA state representative. What he said
