A bombshell legal filing landed in a Miami courtroom this week that could unravel one of the most controversial FBI corruption cases in American history.
Defense attorneys for former FBI agent John Connolly moved to vacate his murder conviction, pointing to a hidden manuscript written in the hand of the late Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger.
The attorneys filed their motion in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, calling the evidence newly discovered and accusing prosecutors of keeping it from the defense for years.
U.S. News & World Report highlighted that the evidence package includes FBI reports capturing Bulger’s own statements alongside an unfinished handwritten manuscript that federal agents seized from Bulger’s apartment following his arrest in 2011.
Connolly, now 85, stands convicted in Florida of second-degree murder and racketeering.
His legal team now argues that what Bulger put to paper fundamentally changes the picture of his guilt.
According to the filing, Bulger — who commanded Boston’s Winter Hill Gang — stated in those documents that Connolly did not pass along the tip that triggered the 1982 murder of businessman John Callahan in Miami.
Bulger’s writings point instead to a different FBI agent, John Morris, as his actual inside source, and refer to Connolly in the documents as a “sacrificial lamb.”
In the manuscript, Bulger made no effort to obscure his own criminal history. He wrote that he was a “criminal almost all of my life,” and described leaning on insider information to stay a step ahead of law enforcement.
Bulger also wrote, “I never thought the day would come that I’d be writing a story about my criminal activity.”
Defense attorneys maintain Bulger put pen to paper specifically to help exonerate Connolly.
NBC News reported that in the manuscript, Bulger wrote, “The purpose of this book is first to expose these people who have lied about me to get a ‘get out of prison pass.'”
Bulger also wrote, “I have no intention of ever giving testimony in court against these people — I seek no deal and will freely write the truth about many crimes.”
The road to this new filing runs through a prosecutor’s resignation.
Miami-Dade assistant state attorney Michael Von Zamft resigned in 2024 amid reports that included allegations of granting favors to witnesses and coordinating witness testimony.
WBUR News noted that in 2024, Connolly’s lawyers received a letter from Miami-Dade Chief Assistant State Attorney Jose Arrojo informing them that a sealed envelope marked “confidential” contained the Bulger manuscript and Bulger’s statements to the FBI.
Connolly’s attorneys now accuse prosecutors of a broad pattern of misconduct, arguing they suppressed evidence favorable to the defense in violation of constitutional requirements.
ABC News said that courts have previously found that some evidence was improperly withheld, though those courts concluded it was not significant enough to reverse the conviction.
The 1982 killing at the center of the case was carried out at Miami International Airport.
Hitman John Martorano shot Callahan in the back of the head and left his body in the trunk of a car. Connolly did not face indictment on a first-degree murder charge until 21 years after that killing, per ABC.
The outlet also noted that prosecutors at trial argued that Bulger and Stephen Flemmi ordered Callahan’s death after Connolly warned them the FBI was probing Callahan’s ties to the gang in connection with the 1981 killing of Roger Wheeler, who owned World Jai Alai.
Bulger’s manuscript directly challenges that version of events. Bulger wrote, “I am sure everyone close to me thought all the information I had came from [Connolly]. I didn’t discourage that thought — sadly for Connolly, he took the heat for warning me to take off and other things that had come from [Morris].”
Bulger also accused Morris of becoming a “star witness” against Connolly to protect himself.
Morris testified against Connolly under a cooperation agreement that shielded him from prosecution.
Connolly’s attorney Peter Mullane stated, “My client spent 19 years in prison and shouldn’t have spent 19 minutes.”
Connolly had been serving a 40-year sentence before a judge granted him compassionate release in 2021, citing terminal illness and the risks posed by COVID-19.
