Amid reported federal investigation, Boston city councilor releases statement

A Boston city councilor reportedly subject to a federal investigation declined to comment on the matter in a statement Wednesday, but thanked her supporters and committed to staying in office.

“My job is show up and to fight for you. And I will continue to do just that; the people’s work,” District 7 Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson wrote in a post on Instagram.

The statement, addressing what Fernandes Anderson called “the news yesterday,” followed a Boston Globe report that federal authorities were investigating the councilor and had sent subpoenas to City Hall.

• Read more: Boston City Councilor Fernandes Anderson investigated by feds, reports say

Citing anonymous sources, the Globe reported that the nature of the investigation was unclear. No criminal charges had been filed.

Fernandes Anderson, who represents Roxbury, Dorchester and the South End, said she had received “a tremendous amount of prayers, support, and well wishes” since the story was published.

“Unfortunately, I am not able to comment on this matter at this time,” she said Wednesday. “As soon as I can I will be sure to share with you.”

It is not Fernandes Anderson‘s first brush with scrutiny.

In July 2023, the Massachusetts Ethics Commission cited Fernandes Anderson for hiring her sister and son to full-time staff positions after she took office in 2022.

Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister as director of constituent services with an initial salary of $65,000, later increasing her salary to $70,000 with a $7,000 bonus in June 2022.

Her son was appointed office manager around the same time, with an initial salary of $52,000. Eleven days later, Fernandes Anderson increased his pay to $70,000.

The commission required her to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.

More recently, other state authorities levied fines against Fernandes Anderson last month for multiple campaign finance violations.

The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance said the city councilor had not promptly disclosed $32,900 of the $34,500 that was deposited into her campaign account from Nov. 2023 to Sept. 2024.

The office ordered her to pay a $1,750 fine. She was also forced to return $100 in excess contributions from another candidate’s committee.

Fernandes Anderson is in her second term and is the first Muslim, first formerly undocumented immigrant and first African immigrant to serve on the council.

She won reelection in 2023 with more than 70% of the vote in her district.