May 29, 2009 8:23 am US/Eastern
Charges Dropped Against Mayor Dixon, Councilwoman
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A judge drops some of the charges against Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
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The landmark decision to drop perjury charges against the Mayor and drop all charges against a Baltimore City Councilwoman.
Still there are troubles still facing Sheila Dixon and uncertainty about what's next in the state prosecutor's corruption investigation.
Mike Hellgren reports a judge threw out five of the criminal charges against the Mayor, but allowed seven more to stand.
It's rare that any charges get thrown out, but the judge's decision is mixed for the Mayor.
She still faces theft, perjury, and one misconduct charge.
The decision however is a true victory for her colleague Councilwoman Helen Holton.
"Oh you can talk to Arnold Weiner, my attorney," said Mayor Sheila Dixon late Thursday afternoon.
She refused to answer questions from Eyewitness News about her partial victory in the embarassing, long-running scandal at City Hall after a judge dropped perjury charges against her, but allowed other charges to stand.
The judge threw out the entire case against Councilwoman Helen Holton.
"I thank God, who is the center of my life, and without the strength of God, I don't think I'd be able to make it to this day. I'm ecstatic that Judge Sweeney delivered true justice," commented Holton.
The state prosecutor alleged the Mayor got lavish gifts from developer Ron Lipscomb and broke ethics laws by failing to report them while voting on tax breaks for his developments and he claimed Holton took bribes from Lipscomb.
But in the ruling obtained, the judge said elected officials' votes cannot be used against them that they have what's called legislative immunity, so he got rid of those charges.
"Members of a legislative body, a city council or general assembly have absolute immunity for their legislative actions. Their votes cannot be used as evidence against them," agreed University of Maryland Law Professor Larry Gibson
The Mayor still faces charges she stole gift cards meant for the needy and used them to buy clothes and electronics for herself.
"I really thought it was a lot of politics going on there, regrettably because the city has suffered," said City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke.
"I'm glad that some of the clouds hanging over City Hall have been dispersed," agreed City Councilman Robert Curran.
The prosecutor could appeal the judge's rulings for now, though, Councilwoman Holton is relieved.
"I'm just elated. Thank god, who is the center of my life and without the strength of god I don't think I'd be able to make it to this day. I'm ecstatic that judge Sweeney delivered true justice. I am eternally grateful to the many, many people who have been praying and supporting through this process, and to my attorneys who did an exemplary job of putting together a defense that led us to today," Holton.
She had been accused of bribery, perjury and wrongdoing in office that developer Ronald Lipscomb had paid her $12,500 for a political survey in exchange for her votes on city council.
Dixon's attorney, Dale P. Kelberman said Friday that the judge agreed with a defense motion that Dixon and Councilwoman Helen Holton enjoy legislative immunity.
Dixon's trial is set for September 8, 2009.
"There are moments in your life when it's not about the public, and this is really about my faith in God and knowing what I had done and what I had not done," added Holton.
The Mayor's trial is set for September 8, 2009.
Eyewitness News gathered reaction from city workers and city leaders outside Baltimore's City Hall.
Many were reluctant to comment on the news.
"We have news that some of the charges against the mayor have been dropped, your reaction?"
"We can't comment on that we work for her," said one staffer outside City Hall.
"Your reaction?"
"Sorry I don't have one," said one person leaving the building.
Your reaction?
"I have no comment, thank you," added another person entering the building.
"I'm just hearing it from you," said Councilwoman Sharon Green Middleton. "So I have no comment at this time, thank you."
While Councilwoman Sharon Middleton had no comment, Councilwoman Rikki Spector is relieved.
"Oh my my, well that's good news.It's good news for us, it's good news for them. I wear the Mayor on my chest and she's the best Mayor I've ever worked with and I'm a long serving ...good news," said Councilwoman Spector.
Councilman Robert Curran says he's not surprised the perjury charges against the mayor were dismissed, because he believes the state's interpretation of the city's ethic law was off base.
"I knew all along that the perjury charges wouldn't go through, because I'm as involved with the ethic laws as anyone in City Hall. It came through my committee five years ago. I knew in my heart that and in my mind that they were not going to go forward," Curran said.
In a statement Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said, "Today, I was very pleased to learn that all the charges against my council colleague Helen Holton were dismissed. As the legal matter has now been appropriately resolved, Councilwoman Holton will return to service as Chair of the Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee. My prayers are with Mayor Dixon as this difficult case continues."
"I believe as the fullness of time that she will be found to be exonerated from the other charges too," added Curran.
In the meantime today's news is welcome by the Mayor's supporters.
"Great, excited, and happy for her," said one man going into City Hall to do business.
A final resolution will not come until September.
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