Baltimore mayor: ‘I will continue to do the people’s business’
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, who was convicted last week on charges of fraud, said in press conference that she will “continue to do the people’s business.” Dixon’s attorney said in media interviews that the conviction was for a crime that was not related to her duties as Baltimore City Council president, the position she held at the time, and, therefore, should not lead to her removal from office.
Dixon was found guilty of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary of $525 in gift cards, a misdemeanor that carries penalties ranging from unsupervised probation to five years in prison, according to the Associated Press. Her sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
In the televised press conference, which is archived on www.cnn.com/video, Dixon said she regrets that the people of Baltimore “have had to go through this ordeal with me.” “While I recognize that the issues before me go beyond the courtroom, my attorneys have advised me to limit my comments while the legal process continues,” Dixon said. “In the meantime, my administration and I will continue to do the people’s business without interruption, and we will continue to act in the best interest of this city.”
Read the AP news story on Dixon’s conviction. Also, see the related court documents in the case.