Baltimore mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell Jr.?s father, who was accused by his son of misappropriating campaign funds, hit back today in a sternly worded letter charging his son?s campaign with not paying rent and failing to reimburse him for campaign expenses.
In the letter, Dr. Keiffer Mitchell Sr. accused the campaign of failing to pay rent, utilities, and other expenses at his office on 120 Druid Hill Ave. As a result, Dr. Mitchell wants the campaign to vacate the space, which he said they have occupied without paying a cent since January.
“The campaign has completely ignored my request for payment of rent, utilities services set forth in a letter to you,” he wrote. “The campaign?s attitude and actions regarding its obligations to me have been most disturbing.”
In the letter, Dr. Mitchell accused the campaign of intentionally tarnishing his image for what he described as “misguided public image objectives,” by releasing inaccurate details of his campaign spending. He also alleges that the campaign owes him more than $44,000 and is suffering from “amnesia” over fundraising activities conducted by both he and his wife, Nanette Mitchell.
The letter, given to The Examiner on Tuesday, marks another sordid chapter in the campaign finance controversy that has engulfed the Mitchell campaign. (Click here to read the letter.)
In early August, Dr. Mitchell resigned as the campaign?s treasurer after thousands of dollars of expenses, including $19,000 in checks written out to cash and $14,000 for a Towson hotel room, were disputed. Attorneys for Dr. Mitchell later defended the candidate?s father, arguing all the money was used for legitimate campaign activities.
However, a preliminary campaign finance report filed by the campaign on Aug.14 showed thousands of dollars worth of expenditures still unaccounted for.
In the letter, Dr. Mitchell expressed affection for the three-term city councilman, who also affirmed his love for his father last month.
“I love my son and wish his campaign well,” Mitchell wrote. “But I cannot allow his political committee to break the law by receiving from me excessive contributions,” arguing the unpaid office rent could be counted as an “in-kind” donation.
Calls to both the Mitchell campaign and the offices of Dr. Mitchell seeking comment were not immediately returned.
