Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh resigns following criminal and ethical woes
The beleaguered Democratic Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, Catherine Pugh, quit her job yesterday. Ongoing state and federal investigations, an FBI raid on her private residence and her City Hall offices, a severely tarnished reputation and calls from Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan and members from her own party just all proved too much for the former mayor who has been missing in action and on sick leave, claiming she was suffering from pneumonia for the last month.
Legal and ethical woes began for Pugh a few months ago, “after revelations that she made more than $500,000 selling her children’s book series to entities that do business with the city” came to light, according to USA Today.
At issue are the sales of Pugh’s “Healthy Holly” books to the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh was a member of the volunteer board of directors until resigning that post last month.
The medical system paid Pugh $500,000 for copies of the self-published books while she served on its board, according to the Baltimore Sun. The books are aimed at promoting exercise and good diet.
Health insurer Kaiser Permanente also bought books – when the city spending board Pugh controls awarded the company a $48 million contract to provide health insurance to city employees, the Sun reported.
Pugh’s legal rep, Steven D. Silverman, announced her resignation from office yesterday, saying that it was a “sad day for Baltimore,” according to The Washington Post. Silverman read a brief statement from the former Mayor:
“Dear citizens of Baltimore, I would like to thank you for allowing me to serve as the fiftieth mayor. Today I am submitting my written resignation to the Baltimore City Council.
I am sorry for the harm I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor. Baltimore deserves a mayor that can move our great city forward.”
Her resignation was designed to become effectively immediately. Pugh was a one-term Mayor for Baltimore and came to power following a successful run for the office in 2016. Bernard “Jack” Young has been Acting Mayor since Pugh went on sick leave last month and will replace Pugh as the full-time Mayor until his term expires in December 2020.
Pugh may still be facing criminal charges as investigations into any potential legal wrongdoings are still underway. For more on the embattled mayor’s resignation, see the video accompanying this article.
~ Written by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
