Baltimore Mayor Indicted

Last June, I wrote about the state prosecutor's investigation of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, which was being taken before a grand jury. I focused on a series of ethical problems Mayor Dixon had in her pre-mayoral days and how they built toward these more serious alleged offenses. A little more than six months later, the grand jury has brought a 12-count indictment against her, including four counts of perjury, two counts of theft over $500, and counts of theft under $500, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary, and misconduct in office.

Some of the accusations involve false disclosure statements submitted under the Baltimore City Ethics Law, leading to perjury charges. Also among the charges are that the mayor used for personal purposes gift cards intended to be distributed to needy families. Also involved were gifts from a developer who was her lover as well as a city contractor.

Mayor Dixon's statement says in part, "I am being unfairly accused. Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges." She says she has no intention of resigning.

According to an article in today's Baltimore Sun, the grand jury indicted two other people:  the developer, Ronald H. Lipscomb, for bribery, and Councilwoman Helen L. Holton, who was charged with accepting a bribe, with perjury, and with malfeasance and nonfeasance in office. Holton was immediately removed from her committee chairmanship.

Robert Wechsler
Director of Research, City Ethics
rwechsler@cityethics.org
203-230-2548