Baltimore IT Allegedly Accessed Inspector General's Servers 433 Times Before Hearing

BALTIMORE — In a troubling development just days before a pivotal court hearing, the city’s Office of Information Technology reportedly accessed the Office of Inspector General's servers 433 times between April 14 and April 17, according to newly filed court documents.

The allegations come as Inspector General Isabel Cumming pursues a lawsuit against the city, claiming that her office's ability to investigate potential misconduct has been compromised after access to important records was restricted and subpoenas went unanswered.

In an affidavit submitted to the court, Bryan Bartsch, the Assistant Inspector General for IT Operations, stated that he had maintained authorized access to several accounts for approximately five years before that access was abruptly terminated. Since then, he indicated that he could no longer verify the accuracy and completeness of the data provided to the Inspector General's office, significantly delaying investigations that previously took hours or days.

Bartsch also raised concerns that the external account accessing the OIG systems had the capability to modify or delete files without adhering to standard permission protocols. The filings did not specify who accessed the systems or what information was reviewed, raising questions among critics.

Taxpayer advocate David Williams expressed concern over the frequency of access attempts, suggesting that it seemed like an effort by city officials to uncover the Inspector General's legal strategy. “This wasn’t an errant search. This was more than 400 times that the files were accessed,” he stated.

The ongoing lawsuit questions the independence of the Inspector General's office from the city administration, the retention of previously granted access to records, and the enforceability of subpoenas. Williams emphasized the importance of the office's independence, particularly in light of the current legal proceedings.

When asked about the numerous login events leading up to the April 17 hearing, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Scott's office cited the active litigation and refrained from providing specific answers. The city is expected to file additional court documents soon, with the next hearing scheduled for late July, which could set a significant precedent regarding the powers of Baltimore's Inspector General.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).