Embattled Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson won’t receive any committee assignments while she faces charges of concealing bribes from developers, her newly elected colleagues voted Tuesday. The public shunning comes a day after County Executive Rushern Baker pledged to oversee the most ethical administration in the Washington region, and council members say the hard line is necessary to turn the page on a scandal consuming the Maryland suburb.
In announcing the decision, newly elected Council Chairwoman Ingrid Turner said the group wanted to avoid the appearance of any wrongdoing, adding that other council members would play an active role in development projects in Johnson’s district.
Last month, Johnson and her husband, former County Executive Jack Johnson, were led away from their Mitchellville home in handcuffs. Federal investigators say they heard the county executive on a wiretap telling his wife to flush a $100,000 check from a developer down the toilet — and FBI agents found nearly $80,000 stuffed in her bra.
They are both charged with tampering and destruction of evidence.
Leslie Johnson took the oath of office Monday, even with overwhelming public pressure not to do so.
Conventional wisdom — at least before her arrest — was that Johnson would serve on the powerful Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee, which reviews zoning and land-use applications from developers.
“She wasn’t happy about it; I can tell you that,” Councilman Will Campos, D-Hyattsville, said of the group’s decision.
Johnson was not present when council members made the announcement. Earlier in the day, she abstained from voting for Vice Chairman Eric Olson, one of five council members who said publicly she should not take the seat.
The group unanimously elected Turner, a second-term councilwoman, as its new leader.
Johnson did not return calls for comment Tuesday. After her inauguration, she said she deserved the same responsibilities as other council members since she was legally entitled to the post.
If she is convicted of a felony, state law would force her to vacate the District 6 seat. County law bars council members from serving only for physical or mental impairment.
