The Maryland state prosecutor wants to make it easier to file state charges against public officials who commit wrongdoing. The governor wants to increase the penalty for bribery. And the House speaker wants to ban political candidates from hiring their relatives to manage fundraising.
With at least six current and former Maryland lawmakers having been convicted of federal fraud or bribery charges over the past three years, it seems everyone in Annapolis — from the governor to the state prosecutor to legislative leaders — is trying to figure out a way to restore public trust in government.
“There is clearly a deficit in public confidence in elected officials,” said Del. Erek L. Barron (D-Prince George’s), a co-sponsor of the legislation proposed by the state prosecutor. “There is a lot of room for improvement.”
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III — whose office investigates and prosecutes government officials for criminal conduct — is pushing to lift a two-year statute of limitations on misconduct-in-office charges, increase the penalty for the offense from five years to 10 and expand the definition of public official to include influential public employees.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Ovetta Wiggins over at the Washington Post