BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming said city leaders have never questioned her access to city records until she began investigating the finances of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE).
Cumming told her board that she received 200 pages of city documents with critical information redacted, marking the first time her probe has been halted.
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“The documents are third-party contract payments. I wanted to see where the money is going,” Cumming said.
Instead of complying with a subpoena, the city cited an opinion from the attorney general, which determined that certain records could be withheld from the inspector general.
In a radio interview, the mayor explained, “Under Maryland state law, the city cannot share juvenile records, financial records with anyone not a party to that agreement with the state of Maryland.”
However, Cumming insisted that voters granted her subpoena power five years ago, allowing her office access to critical documents.
“I would like you to allow me to enforce the subpoena and allow me to get pro bono attorneys to help me enforce the subpoena that I lawfully issued,” Cumming told the advisory board which oversees her office.
The board agreed to allow Cumming to obtain an attorney and enforce the subpoena. Despite this, City Hall continued to block her access to many records, which she claims limits her ability to investigate.
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“It does bring me great concern, but this office is the office of the people,” Cumming said.
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