"There's a *ton* happening in the Baltimore area right now that merits news coverage even if City Hall, the mayor's two homes and multiple other locations hadn't been raided by the FBI and IRS today. Whew! "
That's the latest breaking news from crime reporter Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton)
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Blogger Note: There's been a *ton + more* that's been going on Baltimore for more than the last two years, starting with that Freddy Gray Beat-up in the back of a police van . . .
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FBI, IRS search Baltimore Mayor Pugh's home, City Hall, more
Gov. Larry Hogan: 'For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign'
Updated: 7:33 PM EDT Apr 25, 2019
BALTIMORE —
"The FBI and IRS executed search warrants Thursday at several locations in Baltimore, including Mayor Catherine Pugh's homes and City Hall. Pugh's attorney, Steven Silverman, said the mayor is not lucid and that she still suffers from pneumonia and has since developed bronchitis.
The searches began around 6:30 a.m. Thursday and include the following locations:
- Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh's two homes in northwest Baltimore
- Baltimore City Hall
- Pugh's lawyers' office
- Offices of a nonprofit Pugh founded, and the home of the organization's executive director
- Home of former mayoral aide Gary Brown Jr.
> Pugh drew scrutiny after it was learned that she purchased the home during the same time period that the University of Maryland Medical System paid her nearly $250,000 through her Healthy Holly LLC for tens of thousands of children's books. The 11 News I-Team has learned the deal has little public accounting.
> Pugh's LLC received $100,000 from the medical system in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, according to state filings.
Agents search several locations linked to Pugh
> Around the corner from the Ellamont house, agents served a search warrant at the home Pugh has owned since 1988 that she uses for her business address. Neighbors said they have not seen Pugh at the home for about five weeks.
> Another set of agents executed a search warrant at 4910 Park Heights Ave., which is used by the nonprofit Maryland Center for Adult Training, which has ties to Pugh.
On its board were three top aides to the mayor, who have subsequently been fired by Ex-Officio Mayor Jack Young.
> The FBI also executed a search warrant at the home of Gary Brown Jr., one Pugh's aides who was fired Wednesday. Brown was prosecuted by state prosecutors in 2016 for illegal campaign contributions to the Pugh campaign in 2016.> Nearly two dozen agents were also at City Hall, where they were seen removing boxes of potential evidence related to Pugh.
> The FBI/IRS also executed a search warrant at the offices of lawyers representing Pugh, a source familiar told the 11 News I-Team. It is very unusual for a lawyer's office to get searched, and there is a very high bar for agents to cross to get a judge to authorize such a search because lawyers have many clients who are all protected by confidentiality provision.
Renewed calls for mayor to resign
The developments Thursday have further increased calls for Pugh to resign, including from the governor.
Pugh Attorney Steve Silverman says she is not lucid. She still suffers from pneumonia and now has developed bronchitis. He says she’s not focused enough to make a rational decision.
