Mass. state senator indicted, resigns

BOSTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts state senator charged with taking bribes from a nightclub seeking a liquor license and a developer resigned Wednesday.

A federal grand jury in Boston Tuesday handed up 12-page, eight-count indictment charging Dianne Wilkerson, D-Boston, with receiving $23,500 in bribes.

"This morning, Nov. 19, a letter was hand delivered to Senate President Therese Murray advising of my resignation from the office of State Senator from the Second Suffolk District, effective today," a statement issued by Wilkerson's office said, The Boston Globe reported. "There will be no further comments today on this matter."

"This remains an active investigation," U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said. "We intend to aggressively pursue all leads in this case, more fully digest the evidence we have gathered to date, and bring additional charges as called for by the evidence."

Wilkerson has represented the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston in the state Senate for 15 years. Fellow Democrats urged her to resign.