Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh (D) resigned in disgrace through her attorney Thursday after weeks of temporary leave coinciding with the unfurling scandal of her self-dealing children’s book scheme.
“I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor,” Pugh’s attorney, Steven Silverman, read from a statement. “Baltimore deserves a mayor that can move our great city forward.”
Pugh’s resignation is effective immediately.
Pugh’s lawyer reads her resignation statement pic.twitter.com/TSWMF4f0Sn
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 2, 2019
Using her children’s series “Healthy Holly,” Pugh cut multiple book deals with organizations that do business with the city and other organizations she oversaw.
In the first break in the case, the Baltimore Sun revealed that she did not disclose that she’d received $500,000 from the University of Maryland medical system since 2011, while she sat on its board.
It snowballed from there, as she refused to release her tax returns and more deals were uncovered. The state prosector’s office launched an investigation.
Pugh stepped down, citing a nasty bout of pneumonia, and left acting Mayor Jack Young to helm her sinking administration.
Finally, IRS and FBI agents raided her home, Baltimore City Hall (including her attorney’s office) and a recreational club to which she had ties.
Calls for her resignation have been growing and bipartisan in recent days, with even allies like Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) urging her do what’s best for the city.
Read a deep dive of Pugh’s unraveling here.
