A former Massachusetts House speaker who served five years in prison on federal corruption charges is appealing a decision that bars him from registering as a Beacon Hill lobbyist.
Salvatore DiMasi, a Boston Democrat, was convicted in 2011 using his political clout to steer lucrative state contracts to a software company in exchange for $65,000 in payments.
The Boston Globe reports that DiMasi's bid to register as a lobbyist was denied in March by Secretary of State William Galvin's office.
The office cited a 2011 state law that prevents anyone from lobbying for 10 years following convictions on crimes related to state lobbying and ethics rules.
DiMasi argues the federal crimes he was convicted of aren't covered by the state law.
An administrative judge is scheduled to hear DiMasi's appeal next week.
