Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh

By Steve Neavling

ticklethewire.com

Federal agents raided Baltimore City Hall and two homes owned by Mayor Catherine Pugh as part of an investigation involving the mayor’s self-published children’s books.

The FBI and IRS executed additional search warrants Thursday, targeting her attorney, a former mayoral aide and the Maryland Center for Adult Training, a nonprofit job training program that the mayor once led, the Associated Press reports.

Investigators are trying to determine whether Pugh received kickbacks from her books using bulk sales.

Hours after the raid, Gov. Larry Hogan and other elected officials called for Pugh to immediately resign.

“Mayor Pugh has lost the public trust. She is clearly not fit to lead,” Hogan declared in a statement. “For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh must resign.”

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, via Justice Department.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate Russian interference during the presidential election, fire back Thursday at politicians and journalists who have questioned his handling of the probe.

Rosenstein defended the nearly two-year special counsel investigation, saying “our nation is safer, elections are more secure, and citizens are better informed about covert foreign influence schemes.”

Speaking at the Public Servants Dinner of the Armenian Bar Association, Rosenstein spoke publicly for the first time since Mueller’s report was made public.

“As acting Attorney General, it was my responsibility to make sure that the Department of Justice would do what the American people pay us to do: conduct an independent investigation,” said Rosenstein, who leaves the Justice Department next month.

Rosenstein and Attorney General William Barr made the decision that President Trump did not obstruct justice.

“I did pledge to do it right and take it to the appropriate conclusion,” Rosenstein said. “I did not promise to report all results to the public, because grand jury investigations are ex parte proceedings. It is not our job to render conclusive factual findings. … We just decide whether it is appropriate to file criminal charges.”