BOSTON — Newly minted U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael S. Rollins stressed a focus on violent crime and increasing community collaboration during a roundtable with reporters Thursday in Boston.
“I am very clear that, when it comes to violence and serious crimes, that is where I want to be focusing my attention,” Rollins said from her new offices on the ninth floor of the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in the city's Seaport District.
Rollins spoke for about an hour to reporters — some of whom were local and in-person, others who called in from national outlets — about a wide range of issues.
The 50-year-old mother of three — who was the first woman of color elected to district attorney in Massachusetts, and Monday became the first Black woman sworn in as the state’s top federal prosecutor — addressed a mix of personal and professional queries.
National outlets have recently reported on death threats Rollins has received. Answering a question from CNN on the topic Thursday, Rollins said she feels safe and noted she also received many positive messages.
“I think we’re at a point in this country right now where everyone is on edge,” the former Suffolk County DA said, adding that, in her view, many people feel comfortable saying or doing things online they would never do in person.
Violent threats won't be tolerated
While Rollins said she intends to take a thick skin to the job — realizing many will criticize her no matter what she does — she said threats of violence are beyond the pale.
“When things go to a place where it’s racist, or bigoted, or sexist — or, quite frankly, threatening the safety of myself or my three little girls … that’s a bridge too far.”
Rollins also added she intends to work very hard in her job and “hopefully prove some of the individuals that are unhappy wrong.”
Rollins, who previously worked as a prosecutor at the federal office she now helms, told reporters she hopes that her qualifications for the job, not the historic nature of her appointment, underpinned her nomination.
She said he had not yet had a chance to speak with President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris, the latter of whom, a trailblazer in her own position, cast the deciding vote in favor of Rollins’ confirmation in a divided U.S. Senate.
During confirmation hearings, Republican lawmakers derided Rollins for her policy as Suffolk DA of not prosecuting more than a dozen lower-level crimes.
Soft on crime misperception
Thursday, Rollins said there...
