Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
UPDATE 1 p.m. 4/8/19 (WMAL) – Hours after the memo was released, Pugh’s office issued a statement saying she plans to stay.
“Mayor Pugh has taken a leave to focus on recovering from pneumonia and regaining her health. She fully intends to resume the duties of her office and continuing her work on behalf on the people and the city of Baltimore,” the statement read.
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – All 14 members of the Baltimore City council signed a memo put out Monday calling for Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign immediately.
“The myriad of investigations underway into the various business dealings involving the Mayor raise significant ethical and legal issues. It will be impossible for Mayor Pugh to govern effectively,” Councilman Eric Costello wrote in the memo.
It was recently revealed that Pugh raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars selling the children’s book series she wrote, “Healthy Holly,” to the University of Maryland Medical System whose board she serves on, and other businesses and organizations that work with the government.
Pugh has been on a leave of absence as she battles pneumonia.
“But then the news broke over the weekend that she was planning to return, and I think that’s what made it clear that a message has to be send,” said political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland Todd Eberly.
A spokesperson said Saturday Pugh would return as soon as her health allowed.
Eberly agrees with the city council members that she can’t continue in office given the magnitude of the scandal but said there isn’t much the council could do to force her out.
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