Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming is contesting a motion by Mayor Brandon Scott's administration to dismiss her ongoing lawsuit regarding access to city records. In recent court filings, Cumming has urged a judge to reject the city's request and rule in her favor.
The conflict began when the city’s Law Department filed a motion on July 10, arguing that Cumming's lawsuit seeks "unfettered access" to city records, including attorney-client communications and taxpayer-funded legal representation, without proper legal authority.
Cumming contends that the Scott administration is attempting to restrict the independence of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by limiting its access to necessary records and investigative powers. Earlier this year, she initiated legal action against Mayor Scott after his administration began categorizing OIG subpoenas as requests under the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA). This classification has allowed for the redaction or withholding of documents based on state confidentiality laws.
In her response to the city's motion, Cumming argues that the administration's interpretation of the MPIA contradicts the Baltimore City Charter, potentially undermining the OIG's ability to investigate issues of fraud, waste, and abuse. The filings also include an affidavit from former City Solicitor Andre M. Davis, who played a key role in establishing the OIG as an independent office in 2018. Davis criticized the city's argument as an "extraordinary assertion," emphasizing that it conflicts with the intended purpose of the OIG.
Additionally, Cumming has accused the city of denying her access to critical documents from the Department of Public Works and the city's water billing system, despite having received such access in the past.
The city's legal team previously sought to dismiss Cumming's case on May 28. A hearing regarding this dispute is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).
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