Doubt cast on mobster's immunity claim

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BOSTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. and former U.S. Attorney William F. Weld said he is unaware of any immunity deal for suspected mobster James "Whitey" Bulger.

Bulger, 83, who will be tried in June on 19 counts of murder allegedly committed while working as an FBI informant and while Weld was U.S. attorney in Boston, says he was granted immunity from prosecution by the late Jeremiah T. O'Sullivan, head of the New England Organized Crime Strike Force, the Boston Herald reported Monday.

Weld, U.S. attorney from 1981 to 1986, said, "Jerry and I were very close. I know nothing about that, and I met frequently with O'Sullivan, every week."

Weld said he has not yet heard if he will be called as a witness in Bulger's trial.