Yet Another Democrat In An Alleged Scandal
The Mayor of Baltimore, Sheila A. Dixon, was today charged in a 12-count indictment alleging a number of improprieties, including perjury, theft, fraudulent misappropriation and misconduct. The state prosecutor brought the charges following a long investigation. What’s worse about all this is the way the mayor allegedly misappropriated things. She is said to have solicited gift cards for distribution to the needy – then took those cards for herself.
Some of the charges center on gift cards that Dixon received from two real estate developers. According to the indictment, Dixon told one of the developers that the gift cards were going to be distributed to needy families in Baltimore. Prosecutors say that in December 2005, when Dixon was City Council president, she used 19 of 20 Best Buy gift cards for herself, purchasing personal items, including a digital camcorder, a PlayStation 2 and other electronics.
Prosecutors say that in December 2006, she used Old Navy, Best Buy and other gift cards intended for needy families for an Xbox 360, a PlayStation Portable, clothes and other items for her own use.
Rohrbaugh, the state prosecutor, said in a statement that “the citizens of Baltimore have every right to expect their public officials will be open and honest.”
Over the course of the wide-ranging investigation, two people with ties to Dixon have pleaded guilty, and state officials spent seven hours searching the mayor’s Hunting Ridge home.
Lovely. This one takes the cake for over-the-top sleazy. If she is convicted, I sincerely hope they throw the book at her.
James Carville was right. One wonders if he was prescient or merely had a lot of inside knowledge. One strongly suspects the latter is the case. There will be more members of the D-Scandal society soon. I may have to set up a new category for posts. Crime, politics and Democrats is pretty well becoming redundant.
How about a name the category contest? Your suggestions?
By MikeM, January 10, 2009 @ 8:46 am
I live near Baltimore and I think you’re barking up the wrong tree with linking Mayor Dixon to Carville’s comments. Even though Baltimore is solidly Democrat and hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in over 35 years, there is no indication that this scandal has any connection to the national scene. This is strictly a local job.
By Sam L., January 10, 2009 @ 8:51 am
Can we start with “Name That Party”? I heard this on NPR, and hearing no party ID, concluded she was a Demo.
I’ll agree this one looks strictly local, but will investigation show state-wide implications? National, probably not. But the MSM generaly goes for the “one Repub, ALL Repubs” meme…
By Terrence, January 10, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
I like “Name that Party”, but also like “Typical Democrat”…
By Gaius, January 10, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
MikeM, Where do you draw the line? Local politicians feed into state political offices. Those, in turn feed into Federal level. All those local pols are part of the fabric of the party.
Do I think the mayors legal woes are the fault of the national party. per se? No. But I think there is a system-wide problem. From the ground up, so to speak.