BOSTON — Former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins — who resigned as U.S. Attorney in 2023 after two federal agencies found she leaked government secrets, lied under oath, and accepted luxury freebies — is reportedly considering a run for her old job, multiple sources told the Boston Herald.
Her former campaign manager all but confirmed it over the weekend.
The race blew open after current DA Kevin Hayden charged Boston Police Officer Nicholas O'Malley with manslaughter last Thursday — the first time a city cop has faced criminal charges for an on-duty death in roughly 30 years. The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association responded by posting a "Help Wanted" ad on X, encouraging challengers after endorsing Hayden four years ago.
As Suffolk DA from 2019 to 2022, Rollins implemented a notorious "do-not-prosecute list" that included shoplifting, trespassing, drug possession, and resisting arrest. She was then confirmed as U.S. Attorney by a 50-50 Senate vote broken by Vice President Kamala Harris.
That tenure lasted 16 months.
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Former Suffolk DA and U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. Official portrait, 2022.
A 161-page DOJ Inspector General report found she leaked nonpublic DOJ information to sabotage Hayden's campaign — the same man whose seat she now wants — while boosting her preferred candidate, Ricardo Arroyo. She also accepted 30 free Celtics tickets, flights and a luxury resort stay from a sports agency, and lied under oath to investigators.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel called it among the "most egregious" Hatch Act violations ever investigated.
Rollins resigned in May 2023 — one step ahead of formal discipline. Her law license was suspended the following year for failing to pay bar fees. She was last reported working as a "special projects administrator" at Roxbury Community College.
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Her former campaign manager, Ann Chinchilla DeGeorge, all but tipped the comeback on Facebook Sunday, the Herald reported: "During an election year, when he fears Rachael Rollins may be challenging him. Coincidence? Doubtful."
She's not the only name circling. Former City Councilor Michael Flaherty, fired from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission in 2025 and paid $253,670 in severance, is also reportedly interested. Former First Assistant DA Kevin Mullen told the Herald he's been encouraged to run but called it a "long shot."
Neither Rollins nor Flaherty responded to the Herald's requests for comment.
On one side, a disgraced former DA who refused to prosecute criminals. On the other, a sitting DA who just charged a cop for doing his job. Either way, it's the people of Boston who lose.
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