Ulysses Currie

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for September 5, 2008. CLICK HERE

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for August 8, 2008. CLICK HERE.

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.

More PolitickerMD.com coverage: Currie reported income to IRS through at least 2006

Now the plethora of stories that makes for the big finish called “Burns-pourri.” Here is the July edition through alliteration.

State Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s County), who is currently under investigation by the FBI for failing to disclose earnings he made while doing work for Shoppers Food Warehouse, did report his earnings to the Internal Revenue Service through at least 2006, according to The Sun.

Portions of a search warrant affidavit were unsealed this week at the request of various news organizations. According to The Sun, the affidavit revealed Currie was paid approximately $207,000 for his consulting work between 2003 and 2007. Although he never filed these earnings on General Assembly ethics forms, he did report the income to the IRS through at least 2006, according to the affidavit.

The Maryland Republican Party pressed Currie to step down from his position as chair of the state’s Budget and Taxation Committee earlier this week.

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for July 25, 2008. CLICK HERE.