An eyewitness to an alleged sexual assault by Gov. Charlie Baker’s son “A.J.” on board a JetBlue flight two years ago told the Herald she always wondered “what happened to the case.”
The JetBlue pilot of the Washington, D.C.-to-Boston trip on June 20, 2018, who almost diverted the plane to JFK Airport in New York while cruising at 30,000 feet, declined to comment Thursday. So did a flight attendant who said JetBlue “policy forbids me” from talking to the press.
They are a few of a half dozen people named or alluded to in an unredacted Massachusetts State Police report recently obtained by the Herald that details accusations against Baker’s now 26-year-old son who allegedly groped the “right breast” of a female family friend in-flight.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in an email to the Herald Thursday the feds “don’t confirm or deny investigations.” The case, as the Herald has reported, was transferred to federal prosecutors where it remains without any disclosure about what if any action the government has done.
“I was wondering what happened to the case,” said a woman listed in the police report as a witness. The California woman’s name and cell phone number are included in the report — as are other numbers.
In the report, she told police she heard the alleged victim say during the flight, “Don’t do that … don’t do that.” The witness, who heard the commotion while wearing headphones, began to write down notes. The State Police said others also took notes.
The California woman also told police she saw the alleged victim stand up in the aisle. That woman was moved to an open seat up front, the report states.
A spokeswoman for Baker and his son, Andrew J. Baker, directed all questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Thursday. No charges have ever been filed in the case and A.J. Baker stated to police he slept the entire flight.
The report lists the JetBlue flight landed at Logan International Airport and pulled up to the gate about about 11:20 p.m. where State Police were called to look into a visibly upset — at times “crying” — woman reporting she was “touched inappropriately.”
The woman was in seat 18C, A.J. Baker was next to her in seat 18D, the report states. Police add they have a “written narrative” from the alleged victim.
They add: “She utilized verbal and physical direction in an attempt to cease Baker’s unwanted touching. However, (she) was only successful upon being separated from Baker by the flight crew and relocated to another seat.”
A.J. Baker was given a JetBlue Yellow Notice — a card used to warn a passenger to “cease objectionable and illegal behavior.” He later told police he had two glasses of wine before boarding the plane, but did not finish the second glass.
As for the pilot, he decided not to divert the flight to JFK because it would take about the same amount of time to reach Boston.
Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins has been one official who has also mentioned the lack of any update in the case.
As for the governor, he has repeatedly said his son is cooperating with the federal prosecutors office.
