Squad Rep. Ayanna Pressleys hubby still on $2B govt contract as partner pulls out
“Squad” Rep.Ayanna Pressley’s husband, Conan Harris, is still involved with a real estate firm that locked down a controversial $2 billion deal for the development of a new courthouse in Massachusetts despite a key partner divesting from that company due to ethical concerns.Harris had been partners with John Barros in CoJo Real Estate, which was involved in clinching the winning bid for a 40-year lease to build a new courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts.
On Wednesday, Barros, the interim executive director for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, announced he was divesting from the firm due to an ethics controversy.Thus far, Harris hasn’t followed suit even as the firm faces litigation in which two losing bidders raised conflict of interest concerns primarily centered around Barros.“Notwithstanding the fact that John did everything right and complied fully with the law, he has determined that the significant public benefits that will come from the Liberty Junction Team’s project … outweigh his personal interests,“ his lawyer said in a statement.CoJo Real Estate is part of the Liberty Junction group that won the contract.
Harris is the principal on the team.Critics argue that Barros’ involvement raised ethical concerns because the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s board has members who are also on the agency that selected Liberty Junction.Others have questioned whether Pressley’s perch in Congress may have given her husband an advantage on the government contract.Harris’ business income was listed as $100,001-$1,000,000 in Pressley’s 2025 House financial disclosures, and the couple netted up to $250,000 in rent.
The disclosures only provide ranges, not exact figures.A hearing on the matter will take place on Aug.11.“Today’s news that John Barros is stepping away from the Springfield courthouse project confirms what we have said from the start: this selection was irrevocably tainted, and no retroactive exit c...