Maryland governor calls on Baltimore mayor to resign

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Thursday called on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh (D) to resign, shortly after FBI agents raided her home and City Hall.

Hogan said in a tweet that Pugh, who is under investigation over sales of her “Healthy Holly” children’s books, “has lost the public trust.”

“Now more than ever, Baltimore City needs strong and responsible leadership,” Hogan said. “Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust. She is clearly not fit to lead. For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign.”

Now more than ever, Baltimore City needs strong and responsible leadership. Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust. She is clearly not fit to lead. For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign.

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) April 25, 2019

The governor said in another tweet that he directed the Maryland state prosecutor to investigate Pugh amid the scandal with her children’s books.

An FBI spokesman told The Baltimore Sun on Thursday that federal agents had executed search warrants at Pugh’s home, Baltimore City Hall and the office of her attorney, Steven Silverman.

{mosads}Agents also raided the Maryland Center for Adult Training. Pugh previously led the nonprofit job training program, according to the Sun.

The Democratic mayor announced earlier this month that she was taking a leave of absence amid the scandal over her children’s books.

Pugh, who became mayor in 2016, resigned last month from the board of directors for the University of Maryland Medical System after The Baltimore Sun reported that the hospital purchased 100,000 copies of her “Healthy Holly” books for $500,000.

The Sun later reported that Kaiser Permanente paid about $114,000 for 20,000 copies of Pugh’s books between 2015 and 2018. The city’s spending board, which Pugh sits on, awarded a $48 million contract to Kaiser in 2017 to provide health benefits to city employees.