Mass. Gov. Patrick Defends Lt. Gov. Murray

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he does not believe an investigation into possible campaign finance violations was what prompted Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray to skip the 2014 governor's race.

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Patrick told reporters on Friday that Murray has answered "a lot of pointed questions" about the case and that he has full trust in the lieutenant governor.

On Thursday, the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance made public a letter it sent in September to Attorney General Martha Coakley saying there was evidence Murray and his political committee broke the law by accepting donations raised by former Chelsea Housing Authority Director Michael McLaughlin.

Coakley is investigating.

Patrick said he believes Murray's decision not to run for governor was based on family concerns and that he hopes the lieutenant governor will seek public office again in the future.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.