A company with which the husband of Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is a partner has been selected for a nearly $2 billion contract to construct a new courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts. The decision is currently facing a legal challenge from rejected bidders who claim conflicts of interest influenced the selection process.
CoJo Real Estate, a firm where Conan Harris, Pressley's husband, is a partner, is part of the Liberty Junction team that secured a 40-year lease for the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse project in early July. The lawsuit alleges that John Barros, a partner with Harris at CoJo Real Estate, held a position as interim executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA). According to the plaintiffs, Barros’ role at the MCCA created a conflict of interest because several members of the MCCA board also serve on the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), the state agency responsible for selecting Liberty Junction.
Records indicate that the formal bidding process commenced on June 30, 2025, when DCAMM issued its request for proposals. The lawsuit further claims that Barros, upon assuming his leadership role at the MCCA on January 14, 2026, did not disclose his involvement in the courthouse bidding process to the State Ethics Commission. It was also noted that the Liberty Junction proposal was not updated to reflect Barros' appointment to a leading position within the MCCA.
Massachusetts law generally prohibits state employees from having a direct or indirect financial stake in state contracts, unless specific exemptions are met, such as required disclosures to the State Ethics Commission and non-participation in the contracting agency's work.
Rep. Pressley, a member of the "Squad," has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and no evidence suggests her involvement in the bidding process.
Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, has defended the procurement process, stating that Springfield requires a new courthouse and describing the current facility as "sick." Healey emphasized that the selected project represented the lowest cost to taxpayers, asserting her commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars.
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance has called for the Healey administration to immediately pause the deal, release relevant procurement records, and allow for a thorough review of the allegations.