An alleged Orthodox Christian monk from Massachusetts is speaking out after federal fraud charges against him brought by a disgraced Biden prosecutor were dropped — charges that saw him arrested in the middle of the prayer service.
Brian Bushell and his business partner Tracey Stockton were indicted in October 2022 in an alleged $3.6 million COVID relief fraud scheme by former U.S. Attorney of Massachusetts and Biden appointee Rachael Rollins.
Rollins was ousted in May 2023 after an investigation found she violated the Hatch Act and the Monk said she pursued charges against him to distract from her own legal troubles.
After she was deposed, the new federal prosecutor dropped charges against the monk — which he said had been filed for her “own political gain.”
Bushnell said the FBI raided his house of worship while he was in the middle of his early morning prayers.
‘There was no warning. I saw flashlights outside the chapel windows. Dogs started barking,” he said.
Brian Bushell, an alleged Orthodox Christian monk, speaks out after federal fraud charges against him brought by a disgraced Biden accuser were dropped
Bushnell said the FBI raided his house of worship while he was in the middle of his early morning prayers
Bushell is the leader of several organizations, including the St. Paul’s Foundation, a “monastery house,” a clergy residence, and a monastery brewery called Marblehead Brewing Co. Pictured is a property Bushnell owns
Bushell is the leader of several organizations, including the St. Paul’s Foundation, a “monastery house,” a clergy residence and a monastery brewery called Marblehead Brewing Co., reported NBC Boston.
The monk said he had no idea why he was being arrested and had asked to see the warrant.
Bushnell said, “The whole feeling that the apparatus of government, which is supposed to protect the weak and protect those who struggle to do good things for others, was actually weighing on me… it’s terrifying. It’s traumatic.’
“Where was President Biden when his American lawyer Rachael Rollin defamed the Orthodox Church and me personally?”
The charges against Bushnell and Stockton were dropped in November, but the monk said this has damaged his reputation.
“There are still people who have made a decision based on these lies. And it will be difficult to change your mind,” he said. “Once you get arrested very publicly… it becomes almost insurmountable.”
Bushnell denounced the accusations and described himself as a political pawn.
“This was too good to pass up as she was herself being investigated for ethical violations.”
The monk was accused of “vastly” overestimating his organization’s operating costs to obtain larger funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Rollins’ office said Bushnell used the money to buy more than $40,000 worth of Swiss watches, a nearly $7,000 Goyard designer handbag for Stockton, $2,400 worth of Hermès items and other luxury goods.
The charges against Bushnell and Stockton were dropped in November, but the monk said this has damaged his reputation
Former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins of Massachusetts was impeached in May 2023 after investigation found she violated the Hatch Act
In asking to dismiss the charges, acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said, “The government respectfully submits this resignation when it is in the interests of justice,” without further explanation.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Rollins committed “one of the most egregious violations of the Hatch Act” their office had ever investigated.
The Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939, prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain types of political activities.
The investigation found that Rollins leaked Justice Department information to influence the election for Suffolk County District Attorney and attended a political fundraiser while working in her official capacity.
According to the investigation, Rollins spoke to reporters from The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald about an investigation into then-Interim Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.
The former U.S. attorney allegedly used her personal cell phone to send messages to her staff, including about official Justice Department matters.
She was also accused of soliciting and accepting 30 free tickets to Boston Celtics games and taking payments from a sports and entertainment agency.
Rollins announced she would resign shortly after the investigation into her violations of the Hatch Act was published.