Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh will resign later on Thursday, according to a new report.
The Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper reported Thursday that Pugh told its publisher she plans to step down from her post Thursday, effective immediately. Pugh’s attorney Steve Silverman told CBS Baltimore that a press conference will be held at his office Thursday, but didn’t disclose why the press conference was being held.
Pugh, who has been on paid medical leave for approximately a month due to pneumonia, has faced pressure to step down from her post amid an investigation into the sales of her children’s book, Healthy Holly.
“Now more than ever, Baltimore City needs strong and responsible leadership,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, tweeted last month. “Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust. She is clearly not fit to lead. For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign.”
#Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign today, per reports. Press conference scheduled at her attorney’s office for this afternoon. Tune into @wjz for the latest… https://t.co/WyJ9Cma1be
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) May 2, 2019
The University of Maryland Medical System arranged a deal with Pugh to purchase 100,000 copies of Pugh’s book for $500,000 from Pugh’s company Health Holly LLC — an arrangement that occurred while Pugh was a board member of the University of Maryland Medical System.
Pugh, whose home was searched by the FBI and IRS last week, has since stepped down as a board member and apologized she had “done something to upset the people.” She also returned $100,000 for 20,000 copies of books that have yet to be fulfilled.
