State GOP party leader asks federal criminal authorities to investigate possible misuse of more than $1 million in party funds Jim Lyons questions spending by Governor Bakerâs fund-raiser By Andrea Estes Globe Staff,Updated December 12, 2020, 6:14 p.m. Email to a Friend Jim Lyons.handout State Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons has asked the US attorney and the FBI along with three other agencies to investigate whether former employees and fund-raisers for the GOP â including Governor Charlie Bakerâs former finance director â misused more than $1 million in party funds. Lyons, who took over leadership of the party in 2019, has been reviewing the partyâs finances for more than a year. In letters requesting the investigation, he alleged that John Cook, Bakerâs former finance director, has since 2013 directed the party to pay more than $1 million to businesses he owned or controlled even though he was not an employee of the party or working under a contract.