BOSTON -- The embattled House Speaker Sal DiMasi is blasting critics who have accused him of ethics violations.

DiMasi: Ethics Probe 'Baseless'

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that DiMasi said he's outraged by stories questioning his ethics and integrity.

"I'm a little bit shocked about it, but then again, I'm the speaker and I make decisions that sometimes infuriate people, they anger people," he said.

DiMasi questioned the timing of the probe so close to the defeat of a casino bill that would allow gambling in the state.

"I believe there were powerful people pushing this bill and it appears to be coincidental that these articles came out at the time that I defeated the casino bill," he said.

DiMasi wouldn't name the "powerful people."

But how does he explain his relationship with Jay Cashman, a close friend who's financially benefited from bills DiMasi has killed and passed.

"All of my personal relationships, my financial transactions, all have been at arms length with state business," DiMasi said.

And then there's his friend and financial adviser, Richard Vitale, who granted him a third mortgage below market interest rates while allegedly bragging to potential clients.

"'I can do things that registered lobbyists can't do behind the scenes,'" Wu said, repeating a statement allegedly made by Vitale.

"I'd be surprised if he said anything like that," DiMasi said.

DiMasi said he needed the $250,000 from the third mortgage to help pay for his children's education.

"It's like anybody else nowadays when you have expenses and tuition for children," DiMasi said.

While he insisted he's not politically vulnerable, he said he's a target.

"There are a lot of people with ambition that are in my chamber, and there are people who have a dislike for me and I've created some enemies," he said.

DiMasi sent out a two-page letter to House members on Monday defending himself and calling all allegations "baseless."

DiMasi insisted he will remain speaker through the rest of this year and run for re-election in January.