A Herald public records appeal has revealed that Gov. Maura Healey’s office and State Police knew about embattled former aide LaMar Cook’s criminal history, which includes serious 2001 gun charges, before they hired him as the $115,968 Western Massachusetts deputy director.

In a response, ordered by the Secretary of State’s Office, to an appeal by the Herald to a blanket denial by state police to release records related to Cook’s background check, MSP Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Siobhan Kelly disclosed what the department wishes to withhold from the public and why. That includes information indicating that the governor’s office likely knew about Cook’s 2001 gun charges, where he allegedly jumped out of a car and fired a gun at people sitting on a porch.

They hired him anyway.

“The Depart

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