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F.B.I. Raids Baltimore City Hall and Mayor Catherine Pugh’s Homes F.B.I. Raids Baltimore City Hall and Mayor Catherine Pugh’s Homes
(32 minutes later)
Hours after federal agents searched Baltimore City Hall and homes belonging to Mayor Catherine Pugh on Thursday morning as part of a series of coordinated raids, the governor of Maryland called for the mayor to resign, saying she had lost the ability to govern.Hours after federal agents searched Baltimore City Hall and homes belonging to Mayor Catherine Pugh on Thursday morning as part of a series of coordinated raids, the governor of Maryland called for the mayor to resign, saying she had lost the ability to govern.
“Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. “She is clearly not fit to lead.”“Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. “She is clearly not fit to lead.”
The governor’s demand for Mayor Pugh’s resignation comes a little more than two weeks after the Baltimore City Council urged Ms. Pugh to step down, and three weeks after Governor Hogan ordered a state investigation into the business relationship between Ms. Pugh and a company with extensive financial ties to the city. The governor’s demand for Mayor Pugh’s resignation comes a little more than two weeks after the Baltimore City Council urged Ms. Pugh to step down, and three weeks after Governor Hogan ordered a state investigation into the business relationship between Ms. Pugh and a company with extensive financial ties to the city. Mayor Pugh is a Democrat; Governor Hogan is a Republican.
The federal authorities did not disclose on Thursday what they were looking for in the early morning searches at City Hall and two of Ms. Pugh’s homes in Baltimore as well as at the Maryland Center for Adult Training, a nonprofit job training program.The federal authorities did not disclose on Thursday what they were looking for in the early morning searches at City Hall and two of Ms. Pugh’s homes in Baltimore as well as at the Maryland Center for Adult Training, a nonprofit job training program.
Agents from the F.B.I. and the Internal Revenue Service executed the search warrants, said an F.B.I. spokesman, Dave Fitz.Agents from the F.B.I. and the Internal Revenue Service executed the search warrants, said an F.B.I. spokesman, Dave Fitz.
Ms. Pugh, who has denied wrongdoing, has been embroiled for weeks in a scandal over hundreds of thousands of dollars she received for a series of children’s books she began writing in 2011.Ms. Pugh, who has denied wrongdoing, has been embroiled for weeks in a scandal over hundreds of thousands of dollars she received for a series of children’s books she began writing in 2011.
On April 1, Governor Hogan asked state prosecutors to investigate a $500,000 payment that Ms. Pugh received from the University of Maryland Medical System, a nonprofit health care company that operates hospitals and other health care facilities in Baltimore and around the state.On April 1, Governor Hogan asked state prosecutors to investigate a $500,000 payment that Ms. Pugh received from the University of Maryland Medical System, a nonprofit health care company that operates hospitals and other health care facilities in Baltimore and around the state.
The payment was for copies of Ms. Pugh’s “Healthy Holly” books, which promote healthy children’s eating and exercise. The books were to be distributed to schools in the city.The payment was for copies of Ms. Pugh’s “Healthy Holly” books, which promote healthy children’s eating and exercise. The books were to be distributed to schools in the city.
At the time of the arrangement, Ms. Pugh, a Democrat, was a state senator and sat on the nonprofit organization’s board of directors. She resigned from the board after news of the payments became public in March, apologized for oversights she had made on financial disclosure forms, and returned $100,000. At the time of the arrangement, Ms. Pugh was a state senator and sat on the nonprofit organization’s board of directors. She resigned from the board after news of the payments became public in March, apologized for oversights she had made on financial disclosure forms, and returned $100,000.
But as embarrassing new details emerged, including that the vast majority of the books never reached school children and could not be located, a growing number of elected officials called for her resignation.But as embarrassing new details emerged, including that the vast majority of the books never reached school children and could not be located, a growing number of elected officials called for her resignation.
Ms. Pugh took a leave of absence this month after contracting pneumonia, but she has said she planned to return once she recovers. In her absence, the City Council president, Bernard C. Young, has led the city.Ms. Pugh took a leave of absence this month after contracting pneumonia, but she has said she planned to return once she recovers. In her absence, the City Council president, Bernard C. Young, has led the city.
James Bentley, a spokesman for Mayor Pugh, did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday morning.James Bentley, a spokesman for Mayor Pugh, did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday morning.