Tierney denies brother-in-law's accusations

(NECN: Greg Wayland) – Mass. Congressman John Tierney spoke out on Friday for the first time since his convicted brother-in-law accused Tierney of having knowledge of an illegal gambling operation.

Over the phone from Washington, eight-term Congressman made the case for his truthfulness.

"It's sort of a bizarre statement, a lot of inconsistencies," said Tierney on the allegations made by his brother-in-law, Richard Eremian. "He doesn't really make sense on that. So I'm incredulous about it."

Eremian had a courthouse outburst  after being sentenced  to three years in prison for racketeering and gaming, telling reporters that Tierney "knew everything that was going"  on and called Tierney, "the biggest liar in the world."

Tierney denied  knowing anything about – or being  involved in any way – in Eremian's  illegal online gambling operation.

Eremian also claimed his sister, Tierney’s wife, was forced into a plea agreement for helping her other brother, Robert Eremian, file false tax returns.

Tierney denied that as well, and says his wife was hurt by the charge. As for his relationship with his brother-in-law, Tierney says it wasn’t good.

"On the few occasions over 16 years that we were in each other's company, I held him in minimally high regard, I guess you might say," said Tierney.

Meanwhile, the reaction in Tierney’s district is mixed.