The IRS and FBI raided two homes of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore City Hall on Thursday morning. Pugh and five of her staffers are on paid leave amid a scandal over her book sales. (Published 2 hours ago)
What to Know The IRS and FBI are raiding two homes of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore City Hall
Pugh, a Democrat, is in her first term as mayor, but she and five of her staffers are on paid leave amid a scandal over her book sales
Maryland Gov. Hogan joined calls for Pugh's resignation on Thursday
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is calling for the resignation of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh as FBI and IRS agents search Pugh's two homes and Baltimore City Hall.
FBI spokesman Dave Fitz said Thursday morning multiple agents were "executing court-authorized search warrants" at "both residences and City Hall." He said he couldn't immediately release more information because the search warrants are sealed.
File photo: Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh in January 2019
Pugh's spokesman, James Bentley, said he had no immediate comment on the Thursday raids. Her attorney, Steve Silverman, did not immediately return calls.
Pugh, a Democrat in her first term as mayor, has been facing mounting calls for her to resign over a scandal involving the sale of her children's books to entities that do business with the city.
Hogan, a Republican, joined those calls late Thursday morning.
"Now more than ever, Baltimore City needs strong and responsible leadership," he said in a statement released by his office. "Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust. She is clearly not fit to lead. For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign."
Pugh was already facing a criminal investigation by the state prosecutor's office, which began at Hogan's request, as well as probes by the Baltimore Inspector General, an ethics board at City Hall and a state insurance commission.
It's been more than three weeks since Pugh slipped out of sight, citing deteriorating health from a pneumonia bout. Five of her staffers have since joined her on paid leave.
Pugh said April 1 she was going on leave, on the same day Hogan asked for the investigation of lucrative sales of her "Healthy Holly" books to customers, including a major hospital network she once helped oversee as a state lawmaker and a health plan that does business with the city.
The sales earned about $800,000 for her limited liability company.
Since then, Pugh has been asked to resign by the entire lineup of the current City Council, all Baltimore lawmakers in Maryland's House of Delegates, the influential Greater Baltimore Committee business group and others. Maryland's chief accountant called Pugh's "self-dealing" arrangements to sell her books as "brazen, cartoonish corruption."
But only a conviction can trigger a Baltimore mayor's removal from office, according to City Solicitor Andre Davis and the state constitution. Baltimore's mayor-friendly City Charter currently provides no options for ousting its executive.
"The charter is utterly silent on how long the leave can last, exactly what the reasons are for a leave," Davis told reporters.
Members of Pugh's communications staff have said repeatedly that she intends to return to City Hall when she is feeling better, but have declined to provide any timetable.
As multiple investigations into the mayor's books ramp up, political analysts say Pugh's biggest bargaining chip at the negotiating table is her refusal to resign in a city accustomed to a high-drama, insular political culture.
Pugh came to office in late 2016 after edging out ex-Mayor Sheila Dixon, who spent much of her tenure fighting corruption charges before being forced to depart office in 2010 as part of a plea deal connected to the misappropriation of about $500 in gift cards meant for needy families.
While the accusations have certainly cast a shadow over Pugh, she has not been indicted for any crime, and it is unclear how long a criminal investigation will take. Earlier this month, Silverman said the mayor looks forward to cooperating with the state prosecutor's probe and will provide "as much information as possible to put this matter to rest."
Pugh would certainly face a bruising 2020 Democratic primary if she were to return and run for re-election. Many political observers believe she'll never again be able to wield power effectively due to the scandal.
A veteran City Council leader, Bernard "Jack" Young, is serving as acting mayor. Young said he would merely be a placeholder when she went on leave, and at a Wednesday news conference, he stressed that the decision is up to her. But given the groundswell of opinion against her, he said "it could be devastating for her" if she tried to return.
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for more on this developing story.
Flymia on April 25th, 2019 at 13:13 UTC »
This is the way politics work.
I am 100% for paying politicians decent salaries, but putting up strict laws and guidelines regarding outside pay, jobs, conflict of interest.
In Miami it is a joke. Our mayor is paid $150k but its "part time" and works as a real estate attorney for a large law firm.
The County Mayor's son is a huge lobbyist.
A commissioner's mother is another big lobbyist
One of our state senators who is on the state education committee runs a charter school company.
Its such a sham.
Politicians work for two people, themselves and their big donors. No one else.
OneShortBus on April 25th, 2019 at 12:40 UTC »
I work for the city as a contractor treating their Water. Magically my chemical budget was all used up when we should have had an additional $75,000 available to us. No one from their purchasing department has been able to explain where all of the money went. My guess, this lady and her friends.
The_Best_Balatro on April 25th, 2019 at 11:59 UTC »
I think at this point Baltimore just needs to get rid of everyone in city government and elect people not from Baltimore.