Embattled Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh refused to step-down from office Friday following a stunning FBI raid, with her attorney claiming she’s in poor health and is currently not “lucid” enough to resign.
“Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, who is facing increased calls for her immediate resignation, remains in poor health and is not ‘lucid’ enough to decide whether to step down, her attorney told reporters late Thursday,” reports Fox News.
“She is leaning toward making the best decision in the best interest in the citizens of Baltimore City,” said her lawyer. “She just needs to be physically and mentally sound and lucid enough to make appropriate decisions.”
The FBI and IRS raided Pugh’s two private residences and Baltimore City Hall this week over an ongoing investigation into whether she used children’s book deals to give “kickbacks” to supporters and other politicians.
Read the full report here.
BALTIMORE BACKLASH: Police Commissioner ‘Apologizes’ for ‘200 Years’ of Brutality
Baltimore’s Police Commissioner shocked local residents and the nation Thursday when he “apologized” for “200 years” of police brutality; sparking a fierce backlash from a region struggling to contain escalating gun violence.
Commissioner Darryl De Sousa addressed the crowd at a sold-out Hip Hop concert this week, asking the audience for just “20 seconds” to beg forgiveness for “all the things that the police have done.”
“I want to take about 20 seconds to apologize for all the things that the police have done dating back 200 years,” said De Sousa.
“Two hundred years ago, all the way to civil rights. All the way to the ’80s where crack was prevalent in the cities and it affected disproportionately African-American men. All the way to the ’90s. All the way to the 2000’s when we had zero tolerance,” he added.
The President of Baltimore’s Police Union slammed the Commissioner’s comments late Thursday night, saying it was not “appropriate.”
“I’m not sure that a blanket apology covering 200 years is appropriate. Law enforcement was created to protect and serve the citizenry despite race and that is what we strive to do, daily,” the union added.
BALTIMORE MAYHEM: Mayor Urges STORES TO CLOSE to Avoid Bloodshed
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh took to the streets this week to speak with local business owners after a recent spike in murders; strangely suggesting grocery stores and other shops close early to avoid more bloodshed.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Pugh was strolling through West Baltimore when she stopped by a local convenience store to speak with employees; sitting behind bullet-proof plexiglass for their own safety.
“What time do you-all close?” asked the mayor.
““11:30,” said one employee.
“Isn’t that late?” she asked. “That’s a little late. It keeps the crowds around here. Nine o’clock is nice. We need you-all to close at 9 o’clock at night.”
Pugh found herself in hot water in April with murder rates on the rise after months of her Violence Reduction Initiative; a new strategy aimed at minimizing violent crime in one of nation’s most dangerous cities.
“We’re on top of it,” said the Democratic mayor. “We understand the intelligence. We know about the various gangs that are at war right now.