Judge Rules Against Baltimore's Effort to Seal Inspector General Records

A Baltimore judge has ruled against the city's attempt to seal records requested by the inspector general, Isabel Cumming, in relation to a youth crime-fighting program.

The city's motion was filed in April by Mayor Brandon Scott and the city council after Cumming's office reported difficulties in accessing key documents. The inspector general's investigation revealed that contractors for the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices.

According to Cumming, the city had responded to a subpoena with heavily redacted documents, prompting her office to seek legal action for full access to the financial records associated with the SideStep program.

In a ruling issued on Tuesday, the judge stated that the city's motion did not convincingly demonstrate that allowing inspection of the documents would breach any federal or state laws or Maryland policies. The judge noted that the assertions made in the motion lacked the necessary evidence to justify denying access to the requested records.

The ongoing conflict between Cumming and city officials has sparked significant controversy. In May, Mayor Scott introduced a series of bills aimed at addressing concerns regarding the effectiveness and integrity of the inspector general's office.

Additionally, the mayor announced plans for an independent investigation into the SideStep program, which will be conducted by the global firm Baker Tilly. Scott emphasized that the review aims to be thorough and impartial, asserting that if the investigation corroborates the inspector general's findings, the city would take all necessary actions to recover any misappropriated funds.

Cumming criticized the mayor's legislative proposals, claiming they are more about exerting control than ensuring accountability. She stressed the importance of transparency regarding taxpayer dollars.

The mayor's office responded by asserting that Cumming mischaracterizes the intent of the proposed legislation.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).