Baltimore County, MD — Baltimore County’s Inspector General fears the integrity of her office is back on the chopping block this week.
“It's outrageous that amendments would be proposed, and I would not be given a courtesy copy of them, nor would the administration,” said IG Kelly Madigan.
The back-and-forth battle between Madigan’s office and the elected officials she oversees began in 2021. Following criticism from Council Chair Julian Jones and County Executive Johnny Olszewski, who attempted to restrict Madigan’s powers to investigate fraud, the ‘Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics and Accountability’ was formed. The 7-member committee was tasked with studying the office and ensuring best practices. Almost a year, $100,000 taxpayer dollars, and many public forums later, the committee released a comprehensive, 100-page report listing 20 recommendations, including that the IG have “direct access to government records/materials whenever possible.”
Those recommendations were then converted into a bill supporting the IG’s office long term. However, on Monday, Council Chair Julian Jones blindsided Madigan and the current administration with a list of last-minute amendments that once again threaten to strip her investigative powers.
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“What is shocking to me is that in one fell swoop, those proposed amendments effectively undid, undercut all of that public work and the $100,000,” said Madigan.
The amendments obstruct the I-G’s ability to pull internal documents by extending the amount of time the IG must wait to issue a subpoena to 90 days. An advisory board would also be created, made up of mostly County officials. The IG would be required to submit reports to that board for approval before they can be released to the public.
“When you start to have different layers of oversight for the oversight entity, it kind of begins to become meaningless,” said Madigan, “We are supposed to be a-political and follow the facts wherever they may lead. The reports are not going to be popular for necessarily elected officials.”
“Speaking of reports not always being popular, Jones has been the subject of two of your investigations. Do you think that could have any connection to why he's proposing these amendments?” questioned a FOX 45 reporter.
“As to why he's proposing the amendments, that's a better question for Chairman Jones, but you are correct that he has been the subject of two separate Inspector General reports, and I stand by the work of those reports,” said Madigan.
In one report, Madigan claims Jones inappropriately used his government email to solicit reelection donations. In the other, she cited Jones for misusing public dollars to repave a private road, benefiting a Townson business owner and one of Jones’ political donors.
“I cannot tell you how false that is,” said Jones in an interview last November, denying the allegations.
On Tuesday, Jones did not reply to FOX45’s various requests for an interview. He also ignored the following questions sent to his office:
- What is the reason behind your proposed amendments?
- Why did you go against the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendations?
- What is your response to Madigan saying the changes would compromise the integrity of the Inspector General's office and keep vital information hidden from the public?
“It's their money that we are ensuring is spent appropriately,” said Madigan.
Madigan is now taking to social media, asking Baltimore County residents, whose tax dollars she’s trying to protect, to speak out in protest before Council votes on the proposed amendments.
“I would encourage them, what kind of what kind of watchdog do you want? Do you want a watchdog that has to report to an oversight board that consists of members of Baltimore County Government of whom we have jurisdiction over? Or, do you want someone who is going to follow the facts wherever they may lead and follow the rules with no special treatment for anyone. That's the job I intend to do,” said Madigan.
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December 06, 2023 at 10:59AM
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Baltimore County Inspector General fights potential loss of investigative powers - Fox Baltimore
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