The mayor of Lawrence, a town in northern Massachusetts, gained significant attention on social media after an incident involving his recent arrest. Mayor Brian DePeña, aged 61, was charged in connection with allegations of misusing over $1.5 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). These loans are part of a program managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the CARES Act, aimed at providing aid to struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a press conference, when reporters questioned DePeña about his arrest, his lawyer responded by stating, “He doesn’t speak English. No comment.” Despite this, DePeña was seen smiling and repeating, “God bless you,” to the gathered reporters.
The video of this interaction quickly circulated on social media, drawing criticism. Many questioned why the mayor, holding public office in the United States, would be unable to respond in English.
Loud reactions came from various individuals on social platforms:
- “OMG,” commented LibsofTikTok, garnering over a million views. “How is this real?”
- Conservative radio personality Mike Gallagher remarked, “‘He doesn’t speak English, no comment’ says the assistant of the mayor of an American city. Our melting pot has completely melted.”
- Journalist Miranda Devine stressed that “English fluency should be a basic prerequisite for holding public office.”
- Texas Republican Jace Yarbrough questioned the suitability of DePeña’s candidacy, saying, “Why is an unassimilated foreigner a mayor in America?”
Adding to the controversy, video footage emerged showing the mayor’s car involved in a collision with a parked vehicle as he attempted to leave the scene.
Mayor DePeña, originally from the Dominican Republic, was elected in November 2021 and won re-election in 2025. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021. DePeña has previously noted that he emigrated to the U.S. “without papers” but later obtained U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley commented on the situation, stating, “Mayor DePeña was elected to be a leader for Lawrence. Trusted by his constituents, he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies. Today’s arrest reinforces our commitment to eliminating fraud, even when it involves public officials.”
If found guilty, DePeña could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Both DePeña’s office and his legal representative, Carlos Apostle, have been approached for further comments by Fox News Digital.