Mayor Lozeau: 'I Have Not Engaged in Criminal Activity'

Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau issued a press release on Tuesday afternoon accusing "one or more" members of the Nashua Police Department of investigating her husband due to a contract dispute.

"On the day after my most recent State of the City address, I became aware that my husband, David Lozeau, had been the target of an investigation by the Nashua Police Department," she said. "Yesterday I learned that this investigation was based wholly on statements from one individual facing criminal charges. It also became clear that the police were attempting to investigate me as well."

Mayor Lozeau goes on to say that the person who made the statements had been sued by her husband. The man reportedly told police that David Lozeau was "engaged in bid-rigging, drug use, and misconduct as a bail commissioner."

The mayor said in December of 2009 and January of 2010, 11 attempts were made to wiretap her husband. But she said at no point did her husband implicate himself in any criminal wrongdoing. The investigation was ultimately closed, she said, as no crimes were committed.

She said the closed investigation came back to life in February of 2013, at the same time as her "very public conflict" with Police Chief John Seusing over his department's unwillingness to make certain contract concessions.

"The subsequent attempt by one or more persons in the police department to start a smear campaign based on an unfounded investigation to achieve political goals is shocking and appalling," Mayor Lozeau said. "As a society, we entrust the police with extraordinary power and prestige. When that trust is abused for personal or political ends, as it was here, we are all the poorer for it.

"I have not engaged in criminal activity of any kind," she added. "The suggestion that I committed any misconduct of any kind is unfounded, unsubstantiated and untrue."

Lozeau said she is saddened that her disagreements with the police department over the budget has come to this and looks forward to a public conversation about the conduct of all parties involved.