Step back (or step down)

A little while ago, I admitted that the words “federal investigation” and “Maryland politician” in the same breath makes me nervous. Let’s be honest, for the most part, former U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiaggio gave that scenario a bad name thanks to his overzealous witch-hunts. My skepticism was proudly shown when news came out that state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) was under investigation for his ties to Shoppers Food Warehouse. By the way, these were ties that were reported on his tax forms, but not on his senate ethics forms.

Based on the amount of evidence that has been reported, I can now with a clear conscious say that Currie should at the very least step down from his committee chairmanship. It is becoming increasingly clear that Currie, who I admit is the last person I thought would be investigated, used his office to push through projects that benefited Shoppers.

Currie should step down from the chairmanship of the budget and taxation committee, regardless of whether or not it is found that Shoppers paid him to use his influence. To be perfectly honest, $200,000 over five years does not seem that Shoppers was paying for his influence, it just looks like a regular job. He reported his income on tax forms and he had business cards. From what it looks like right now, Currie just kept a big secret and Shoppers just happens to be the beneficiary of him keeping a very good poker face.

Journalists, just like politicians, must keep their ethics in check. One very good example of this situation is Pat Lawson Muse, an anchor for WRC-TV (Channel 4) in Washington. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because she is the wife of state Senator C. Anthony Muse (D-Dist. 26) of Prince George’s County. Channel 4 and the Muse’s have been honest in dealing with the situation to the point that it is virtually unknown. In other words, they are upfront about it and people are cool with it. Honesty builds bridges.

That is the conundrum befuddling Currie as well as Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D).  While it looks like the latter is only guilty of a lapse in judgment (and being a powerful politician who dates like a normal person,) Currie literally kept his day job as a consultant to Shoppers to himself while using his office to get answers for his job. If Shoppers did not make an arrangement for Currie to keep his lips shut, then he should step down from his committee post. However, if the FBI does find the smoking gun, Currie should step down from office.

It is already looking bad with what has already been reported, but if that bullet is found, then Currie is not the man we thought he was.