Massachusetts State Auditor DiZoglio hires law firm in battle to audit the legislature

Things have escalated concerning the attempt to audit the Massachusetts Legislature.

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has been at the center of a high-profile dispute over her authority to conduct the audit. This stems from Question 1, a ballot initiative on the November 2024 statewide ballot that voters approved with nearly 72% support.

The measure explicitly granted the state auditor the power to audit the legislature, including access to budgetary, hiring, spending, procurement information, and details on active/pending legislation and committee appointment processes—areas previously considered off-limits due to claims of exemptions under separation of powers principles in the state constitution.

Despite the ballot measure’s passage, legislative leaders have resisted compliance, arguing that an audit would violate the constitutional separation of powers between branches of government.

Under state law, the Attorney General’s office must approve any litigation by state officials or entities, and Campbell’s team has stated that any unauthorized litigation by DiZoglio will be immediately dismissed.

This has led to DiZoglio hiring an outside law firm.

She issued the following statement on social media on Thursday.

“We have a right to an attorney and have secured a law firm to sue the Legislature since AG Campbell is opposed to the audit. Even though this move frees the AG from having to enforce the law herself — that’s not enough. The AG is working to block us and seeking to ensure the courts immediately dismiss our case — so that Ron Mariano can forever break the law that 72% of the Commonwealth voted for. Please call the AG and tell her to approve litigation and to stop working with the Legislature behind the scenes to block us from accessing the courts. We the people have a right to an attorney.”

According to the Boston Globe, the law firm’s services will be funded entirely by Michael Minogue, a former medical technology CEO, prominent Republican donor, and potential GOP candidate for governor in 2026, who offered to cover costs as a “concerned citizen.”

DiZoglio is also looking to back a possible 2026 ballot question that would put the Legislature and the Governor’s Office under public records laws.