“There will be no blind eye or separate justice system for the powerful.”

We had suffered innumerable self congratulatory news-less “press conferences” from Rhode Island officials.

But this was different.

A steady, deliberate and self-assured US Attorney Leah B. Foley took to the microphone on the evening of December 19th to announce the death of the Brown University/MIT-Brookline killer by self inflicted gun shot wound.

The contrast was stark, but not surprising, from the plain talking fearless prosecutor appointed by Trump in January to serve as not only the region’s top cop, but also by default, the leading voice of reason in a Bay State controlled by one party.

Foley laid out the facts, and only the facts, in a concise 4 minute statement taking 14 minutes of questions from a media eager to assure the public that the danger had passed.

“We are coming to you tonight because the federal complaint was unsealed and we wanted to provide you with the information and ensure the public that law enforcement collectively believe that we have the person,” Foley confirmed.

Foley’s approach was not much different from February of this year when the newly minted US Attorney announced the take down of Trinitarios gang members: “Today, the Trinitarios reign of terror in Massachusetts has come to an end.”

In between Foley and her staff indicted a sitting State Representative, a sitting County Sherriff and convicted and sent to jail sitting Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson.

“From Boston’s City Hall to the Massachusetts State House, to local and state public officials, this office will continue to aggressively root out and expose public corruption. Massachusetts taxpayers deserve an honest government and accountability. As federal prosecutors we have no fear nor favor.”

Local prosecutors have long shied from such cases.

But her scope also extended to once considered untouchable institutions and powerful individuals.

In a nod to the Paul Newman Boston-based courtroom drama The Verdict, Foley secured a $15 million payment from the vaunted Dana-Farber Cancer Institute “to resolve allegations that it made materially false statements and certifications related to NIH research grants.”

She made car dealer Herb Chambers pay $11.8M to “resolve allegations of PPP loan fraud.”

In June, when Mayor Michelle Wu labeled ICE and Border Patrol officers “secret police” Foley countered: “They are arresting individuals that are here illegally which is a violation of federal law,” adding, “People like Mayor Wu, have created false narratives about their mission.”

“We will not apologize for doing our job.”

She tutored State Attorney General Andrea Campbell in first year Constitutional Law, reminding the junior official that the Supremacy Clause prohibits state officials from arresting federal law enforcement officers during the conduct of their jobs.

Earlier in the spring, Foley took on the systemic opposition to federal authority effectively equating anti-ICE activists with 1950’s state rights segregationists blocking the school house door.

“The interference with ICE operations around Massachusetts has been disturbing, to say the least. This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks. It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified. I will not stand idly by if any public official, public safety officer, organization or private citizen acts in a manner that criminally obstructs or impedes ICE operations. The United States Attorney’s Office, along with our federal partners, will investigate any violations of federal law and pursue charges that are warranted by such activity.”

Over the course of the year Foley secured indictments against: a Chinese organized crime ring, multiple individuals involved with child porn and sex trafficking, a scheme to generate money for North Korean weapons of mass destruction and the former safety director of Boston’s school buses for allegedly pocketing $870,000 in bribes.

We shudder to consider the one-party corruption that would thrive in the Commonwealth without a Donald Trump victory in November 2024 and Foley’s subsequent appointment.

US Attorney Leah B. Foley is our 2025 Person of the Year.