Congressman's wife forced to miss fundraiser as she's under house arrest

By John Stevens for the Daily Mail
Updated: 12:42 EST, 22 June 2011

She is listed as the host of her husband's extravagant $100-a-plate fundraising dinner.

But Patrice Tierney will not be sipping cocktails at the lavish party for her husband Massachusetts congressman John Tierney on Friday, as she is under house arrest.

The 60-year-old jewellery designer is confined to her home until August after she was convicted for aiding and abetting the filing of false tax returns.

Absent host: Patrice Tierney will not attend the fundraiser for her husband congressman John Tierney because she is under house arrest

Absent host: Patrice Tierney will not attend the fundraiser for her husband congressman John Tierney because she is under house arrest

Mrs Tierney is listed on the host committee for the Women Taking the Lead for Tierney fundraiser, which is taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Danvers on Friday night.

But Jennifer Flagg, spokesman for the Democrat's convict wife, said: 'Mrs Tierney is definitely not attending the event.

'She wouldn't do anything to step out of the terms of her probation,' she told the Boston Herald.

A spokesman for John Tierney, 59, who has been in office since 1997, said that Mr Tierney will attend the event, but that the inclusion of the name of his wife of 14 years as a host was a formality.

Mrs Tierney pleaded guilty In January for filing false tax returns for her brother, Rober Eremian, a fugitive from federal charges of illegal gambling, money laundering, witness tampering and racketeering.

Happier times: John Tierney has held office since 1997

Happier times: John Tierney has held office since 1997

Jailed: Mrs Tierney served a 30 day prison sentence after being found guilty of aiding and abetting the filing of false tax returns

Jailed: Mrs Tierney served a 30 day prison sentence after being found guilty of aiding and abetting the filing of false tax returns

She served a 30 day prison sentence in March and is now on two year's supervised with the first five months confined to her home.

Ms Flagg added that Mrs Tierney is 'doing the best she can under the circumstances.'

'She's a remarkably strong and resilient woman,' she added.