November 21, 2008 Boston lawmaker Chuck Turner accused of taking a bribe Play video

(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Worcester, Mass.) - Another Boston lawmaker is under federal investigation today. Authorities arrested City Councilor Chuck Turner at his Boston office this morning. He is accused of taking a bribe from an undercover FBI agent.

Chuck Turner was taken into custody about 7 a.m. at City Hall, less than a month after his records were subpoenaed as part of the investigation into former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who was charged last month after the FBI said she was photographed stuffing bribe money into her bra.

Turner was charged with attempted extortion and making false statements for allegedly accepting $1,000 from the same confidential informant who said he paid bribes to Wilkerson in exchange for help getting a liquor license for a Boston nightclub.

Click here for reaction from Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

An affidavit said Turner was taped in August 2007 taking a wad of money from the informant while in his district office, then denied the payment when confronted by FBI agents on the day Wilkerson was arrested.

Turner told the FBI agents after Wilkerson's arrest that corruption was pervasive among politicians.

Turner is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester this afternoon.

*Material from the Associated Press used in this report*