Baltimore mayor’s home, office and other locations raided by FBI and IRS

Federal authorities on Thursday executed search warrants at the home and several locations tied to Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh as part of an investigation into whether she improperly profited from a no-bid book deal steered to a Maryland medical system while she served on its board.

The FBI and criminal investigators from the Internal Revenue Service executed court-authorized search warrants at the home of the Democratic mayor, a second residence she owns, city hall, a nonprofit the mayor has worked with and the downtown office of her attorney, FBI spokesman Dave Fitz said.

The home of Gary Brown, a former Pugh aide, is also being searched.

The FBI said they have made no arrests at this time in connection with the raids. Pugh, who has taken a leave of absence from her role as mayor, was home when authorities arrived at her house shortly before 7 a.m. ET, a law enforcement official said.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s office confirmed that the searches are tied to the book scandal. He was briefed on the raids by a law enforcement adviser, his office said, and Hogan called for Pugh to resign.

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

A previous report from WJZ said she may have been trying to get out of town, but attorney Steve Silverman spoke outside her home Thursday and said the mayor is physically ill and emotionally saddened. He said she apologized for letting down the people of Baltimore with any appearance of wrongdoing.

On April 8th the Baltimore City Council urged Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign. But within hours of the council issuing its extraordinary call, Pugh responded by saying she “fully intends” to return once her health improves. It is unknown if the raid on Thursday will be enough to convince her to step down.