A company where the husband of Rep.Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is a partner was selected for a nearly $2 billion deal to build a new courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts — a decision now being challenged in court by rejected bidders who allege conflicts of interest tainted the process.Conan Harris, who has been married to the Massachusetts Democrat for more than a decade, is a partner with John Barros in CoJo Real Estate, which is part of the Liberty Junction team selected in early July for the 40-year courthouse lease, according to the lawsuit.The plaintiffs allege Barros’ role as interim executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) created a conflict of interest because several members of that agency’s board also serve on the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, the state agency that selected Liberty Junction.The lawsuit also described Harris as having "deep conflicts," but its most detailed allegations center on Barros' leadership role at the MCCA, another state agency.Rep.
Ayanna Pressley, D-M.A., and her husband Conan Harris join picketing hotel workers at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel on September 2, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Scott Eisen/Getty Images)‘CONFLICT OF INTEREST’: JUDGE WHO AXED TRUMP NAME FROM DC LANDMARK TIED TO ANTI-TRUMP CONSPIRACY THEORYPressley, a member of the "Squad," was not accused of any wrongdoing by the plaintiffs, and there is no evidence she was involved in the bidding process to rebuild the aging Roderick L.
Ireland Courthouse.Records show the bidding process formally began June 30, 2025, when DCAMM released its request for proposals for the Springfield courthouse project.The plaintiffs argued that when Barros became the head of the MCCA on Jan.14, 2026, he did not disclose his participation in the courthouse bidding process to the State Ethics Commission.The lawsuit also said the Liberty Junction proposal was not updated to indicate that Barros had been ap...