A coalition of current and incoming Prince George’s County Council members have joined critics who want Leslie Johnson to give up the council seat she won before being escorted from her home in handcuffs, multiple sources said.
Johnson and her husband, County Executive Jack Johnson, were taken into custody a week ago for trying to conceal thousands of dollars in bribes from developers, the first in an expected series of arrests related to a widespread investigation into corruption by Prince George’s government officials.
“They are afraid that [Leslie Johnson] will turn this place into a circus,” one source said. “Appearances matter, and she would make a mockery of this whole place.”
The source said it was likely that a majority of council members eventually would speak out against the council member-elect before the Dec. 6 swearing-in, but are trying to build a consensus before stepping forward.
The county executive was overheard on wiretaps telling his wife to flush a $100,000 check down the toilet, and FBI agents found nearly $80,000 stuffed in her bra during a raid of their Mitchellville home.
State Republican leaders also are calling for Johnson’s ouster.
“Just one week after being caught with more money in her undergarments than most Marylanders make in a year, her failure to resign continues to plague a county that has endured enough scandal this year,” said Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Audrey Scott.
Johnson would represent nearly 90,000 residents in Capitol Heights, Mitchellville and Upper Marlboro, among other areas.
However, constituents there have started an online petition to keep her from representing them.
“Slip away quietly from the public light,” the petition says. “Leave us at peace. Let us start the process of healing. Our great county does not need the continued distractions that will be caused by a selfish decision by you.”
As of Thursday evening, the petition had nearly 70 signatures.
At this point, there is no
law that would keep Johnson from filling the post. And her husband has returned to complete the final weeks of his second term — with an electronic monitoring
bracelet.
Johnson capitalized on her name recognition to capture 40 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election. Calls to the Johnsons’ Mitchellville home were not returned Thursday.
