Jan 10, 2009 12:45 pm US/Eastern
Mayor Sheila Dixon Indicted In City Hall Probe
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Friday on charges that she accepted illegal gifts during her time as mayor and City Council president, including travel, fur coats and gift cards that she allegedly used for a holiday shopping spree.
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Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Friday on charges that she accepted illegal gifts during her time as mayor and City Council president, including travel, fur coats and gift cards that she allegedly used for a holiday shopping spree.
Mike Hellgren reports a grand jury indicted Dixon on 12 counts, including four counts of perjury and two counts of theft over $500. She was also charged with theft under $500, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and misconduct in office.
The State Prosecutor's Office, which has been investigating corruption at City Hall for nearly three years, said Dixon received holiday gift cards for four years from several people. Prosecutors said the gift cards were to be distributed to needy families, but were instead used by Dixon to buy herself electronics, clothes and other merchandise and also handed out to members of her staff.
Dixon released a statement about the charges.
"There is something I want to tell the citizens of this great city about the charges that the State Prosecutor has brought against me today.
For the past two years, I have done my best to serve the City of Baltimore as Mayor, and I will continue to do so. I will not let these charges deter me from keeping Baltimore on the path that we have set, or from carrying forward the significant progress we have made thus far.
I am being unfairly accused. Time will prove that I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges. But, for the moment, I cannot comment further on the allegations that have been made against me. Instead, my attorneys will address these matters on my behalf.
I want to make it clear, though, that I will continue to put all of my energies into running the City of Baltimore during these perilous economic times. And with God's grace, I am confident that the city, my family and I will weather this storm."
Meanwhile, an attorney for Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon says she "has been the state prosecutor's singular, personal obsession for the past four years."
Attorney Arnold Weiner mounted a detailed, angry verbal attack against Republican State Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh.
He criticized the prosecutor, whom he did not mention by name, for looking into every detail of Dixon's life and for failing to come up with what Weiner says every prosecutor looks for when investigating a public official -- a bribery charge.
Dixon, a Democrat, served on the City Council from 1988 through 2007 and as council president from 1999 through 2007. She became mayor in January 2007, finishing the term of Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, and was easily elected to a full, four-year term later that year.
The Baltimore Police Department released a statement about the indictment.
"The indictment against Mayor Sheila Dixon is a matter between the mayor and the state of Maryland. Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld is focused on targeting bad guys with guns and addressing the policing needs of the city of Baltimore. Mayor Dixon has been and will continue to be a great leader and partner in Baltimore's fight to get illegal guns off the streets, advocating for tougher gun control laws and improve overall public safety for the residents, business owners and visitors of the city."
If found guilty, Dixon could face jail time.
"The City of Baltimore has made solid progress under Mayor Dixon. This is a tough day for all of us who care about Baltimore's progress, and for Mayor Dixon and her family. It is my sincere hope that all of these long drawn out matters will soon be resolved in a court of law once all the facts are known," said Governor Martin O'Malley.
Meanwhile, the two other powerful figures in Baltimore--Councilwoman Helen Holton and developer Ron Lipscomb--also face jail time. They were indicted earlier this week.
Holton's been out of town at a conference on the Eastern Shore since the state prosecutor indicted her on bribery and perjury charges. But now, she's lost her position leading the powerful Taxation and Finance Committee.
Fellow councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke says this is out of Holton's character.
"Councilwoman Holton is, among other things, an ordained minister," said Clarke. "I think she will do well as the explanations come through."
The prosecutor accuses Holton of taking a bribe from prominent developer Ron Lipscomb, a former boyfriend of Mayor Sheila Dixon.
The prosecutor claims Holton got $12,500 for a political survey and billed it to Doracon, Lipscomb's company. At the same time, he says she voted to approve tax breaks for Lipscomb's projects in Harbor East and did not report those on required forms under oath leading to a perjury charge.
"When you've got a potential indictment, particularly of a public profile person, they're going to cross all their t's and dot all their i's before bringing it," said Byron Warnken, law professor.
The charging documents mince no words stating outright Lipscomb bribed Holton.
"Mr. Lipscomb is innocent and wants to tell everyone that, but we as his lawyers, have instructed him to defend himself at trial and not in the press," said Gerard Martin, Lipscomb's attorney.
Lipscomb's name had long been mentioned in connection with the investigation. The prosecutor filed court documents alleging he gave Mayor Dixon lavish gifts and trips in exchange for her votes on tax breaks, allegations the mayor strongly denies.
The mayor's house was raided last year, but she has said she has done nothing wrong and has always been truthful to the citizens of Baltimore.
Maryland's Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura released this statement Friday.
"Earlier this year I said that the question was not whether the next scandal would occur but when. Once again the culture of corruption is rearing its head amongst Maryland Democrat politicians. Of course these two are innocent until proven guilty, but the loose ethics of that we have seen exposed this past year."
"Maryland needs leaders that will hold themselves to a higher standard and not abuse the public trust. Change is definitely in order for Baltimore, Annapolis, and Maryland as a whole. I hope that our nation and state's current economic and budget problems will motivate the Democrats who hold power in this state to reject any appearance of impropriety and focus on doing what is right for the hard-working taxpayers of our state."
City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a statement about the mayor's indictment.
"Mayor Dixon is an effective public servant who has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Baltimore. I wish Mayor Dixon the best as this difficult case continues and allegations are answered as part of the legal process. My prayers are with the mayor and her family during this challenging time."
Former Councilman Keiffer Mitchell also issued a statement.
"Mayor Dixon and I served as colleagues in city government from 1995 until 2007. During those 12 years, I was proud to call her a friend. My prayers are with her, her young family, and the citizens of our city."
You can view the indictment by clicking
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