Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña is facing increasing political pressure amid a growing recall campaign following recent legal developments. DePeña, who is already contending with federal fraud charges, was indicted last week on additional state-level allegations related to secretly recording City Hall employees. The new charges, brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, accuse DePeña of 14 counts of distributing wiretapped communications and one count of witness intimidation. Authorities allege that DePeña installed security cameras in his City Hall office and captured a hallway conversation between two employees, distributing the footage to multiple recipients.
The mayor, currently serving his second term, had earlier pleaded not guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering connected to more than $1.6 million in pandemic relief loans he allegedly obtained fraudulently. Prosecutors claim that DePeña used those funds to pay off debts and finance his 2021 mayoral campaign. Despite the mounting allegations, DePeña has so far resisted calls to resign, stating he remains capable of fulfilling his duties as mayor.
The controversies surrounding DePeña have marked much of his tenure. In 2023, his former chief of staff was convicted of possessing child pornography. Additionally, accusations of ballot tampering arose during the 2023 mayoral race, when DePeña’s challenger alleged his campaign engaged in absentee ballot harvesting, leading the state Secretary of State to take direct oversight of the election process. DePeña narrowly secured re-election by fewer than 1,000 votes.
In response to these developments, a group of Lawrence residents has mobilized to initiate a recall effort aimed at removing DePeña from office. Recall petitions in Lawrence, though rare statewide, have precedent—previous mayors William Lantigua and Dan Rivera faced similar but ultimately unsuccessful attempts. To force a recall election, organizers must first file an affidavit signed by 100 registered voters, then collect approximately 6,500 signatures within 30 days. Supporters say they plan to submit the affidavit soon and have enlisted around 150 volunteers to gather signatures.
Sarah Perez Marquez, a recall leader, expressed concern that DePeña’s legal challenges are distracting him from governing effectively, emphasizing the need for the city to continue operating smoothly. She hopes the threat of recall will prompt the mayor’s resignation but is prepared to proceed with the campaign if he remains in office.
Lawrence City Council President Jeovanny Rodriguez acknowledged the seriousness of the charges and the potential negative impact on the city, which has a population of about 89,000, predominantly Latino, including many immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. While Rodriguez did not explicitly call for DePeña’s resignation, he suggested the mayor consider the demands of defending against multiple indictments.
As the situation unfolds, the coming weeks will likely determine whether DePeña remains in office or faces a recall election, intensifying scrutiny on the leadership of Massachusetts’s Merrimack Valley city.