Local News

9 People Close To Dixon Subpoenaed In Probe

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― The state prosecutor's investigation into Mayor Sheila Dixon is rocking City Hall.

Mike Hellgren reports although the mayor is not charged with a crime, some say the cloud of an investigation is hurting her reputation.

Mayor Dixon did not answer any questions Thursday about the investigation surrounding her. But with items carted out of the mayor's home and City Hall employees summoned to appear before a grand jury, the investigation is expanding.
 
Among those subpoenaed, a housing department official, the mayor's former chief of staff, a mayoral secretary and a mayoral assistant.

"She looks like she's staying strong. I guess when a cloud's been over you for a number of years, you just get thick-skinned. Plus, she feels like she's OK, so I guess if you feel like you're OK, you don't worry as much," said City Councilman Nicholas D'Adamo.

The investigation has gone on for more than two years, but heated up with the search of the mayor's home this week.

A Baltimore judge signed the search warrant, which is sealed and very  detailed.

"We won't know what they say because grand jury proceedings are usually secret," said political analyst Matthew Crenson.

The investigators are looking into possible wrongdoing in two cases.

The first accusation is that Dixon voted on contracts that financially benefitted her sister's employer. The second case involves the mayor's former campaign manager. It accuses that the city paid his company thousands of dollars to work on the City Council's computers with no contract.

Both investigations date to Dixon's tenure as City Council president.

"In my heart, I did nothing intentionally in any of this. This has legs on it that's trying to destroy my character," said Dixon.

In the past, Dixon has called it a witch hunt, but she stayed away from such strong words this week.

"I'm trying to keep the city running and moving and stay focused," said Dixon.

Tuesday morning's knock on her door was a wake up call not only for Dixon but for the city.
 
"I thought it was one of my police officers and, so it woke me up," said Dixon.

Many citizens have been awakened to the fact that doubts about her political activities have not yet been put to rest.

Now her day-to-day activities can't escape the taint of damage control as she insists the investigation will not affect her ability to run the city.

"I remember one political figure, I can't remember his name, who after being declared not guilty asked, 'Now what do I do with my reputation,'" said Crenson.

WJZ's newspaper partner The Baltimore Examiner is reporting the prosecutor is looking at whether a politically connected contractor gave Dixon gifts. The Examiner also reports the prosecutor will present evidence to a grand jury next week.

According to published reports, the state prosecutor is looking into whether fur coats were gifts from people doing business with the city.

The mayor would not say whether the search warrant of her home listed fur coats or whether they were taken in one of her last public comments on the investigation.

"I own several, and I'm not going to go into the personal items that I own," Dixon said.

Analyst Matthew Crenson says it's not all about Dixon, and he believes there's going to be a lot of uncertainty in the days to come.

But the mayor can only be responsible for what she can control, and Dixon says that'll get her through.

Dixon has not been charged with any crime.

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