BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) — It’s been nearly a week since FOX45’s Mikenzie Frost broke the story that a senior advisor to Mayor Brandon Scott rarely reported to City Hall during a three-week period while making multiple stops that appeared unrelated to city business.
FOX45’s investigation found Marvin James, a longtime ally of Mayor Scott, former chief of staff and current arrived at City Hall just twice over the course of three weeks and never appeared to spend a full eight-hour workday there. During that same period, FOX45 documented James using a city-issued vehicle to visit a salon, multiple restaurants and a Washington, D.C. mayoral campaign office during traditional work hours.
James currently serves as a special advisor to Mayor Scott and earns approximately $198,000 annually. Before moving into that role, he served as the mayor’s chief of staff, earning more than $231,000 per year.
The city’s vehicle-use policy states that city-owned vehicles “may not be used for pleasure or to conduct personal business.”
When FOX45 News presented its findings to Mayor Scott last week, the mayor suggested the administration would review the allegations.
“So what we’ll do is we can’t just take your word for something, Mikenzie,” Scott said. “We will investigate anything and we’ll take appropriate action when necessary.”
On Monday, FOX45 News followed up with the mayor’s office, asking whether an investigation had been launched, whether Scott had spoken with James about the apparent personal use of the city-issued vehicle, and whether James would remain employed by the city.
The mayor’s office did not respond.
FOX45 also contacted every member of the Baltimore City Council, asking whether the activity documented by FOX45 represented an appropriate use of taxpayer resources, whether an investigation should be conducted and whether James should remain in his position.
No council members responded to requests for comment.
On Wednesday, FOX45 asked Scott if there were any developments in the investigation.
“Stop chasing me,” the mayor told Mikenzie Frost following a Board of Estimates meeting.
For now, the mayor’s office has not provided a timeline for the investigation or indicated whether its findings will be released.
As questions continue to mount over the role, responsibilities, and activities of one of Mayor Scott’s closest allies, the public is still waiting for answers about how taxpayer dollars are being spent and whether anyone will be held accountable.
The conversation on James has ignited social media.
In two Facebook reels that Frost posted on the case in the past week, over 1,200 comments were posted.
Those same reels generated over 700 more comments on Instagram.
Now, social media users themselves are getting in on the conversation, putting their own spin on the question of, “Where is Marvin James?”
One user shared this photo of a milk carton asking, “Have you seen me?”
As of June 26, the mayor’s office has not provided any update on an investigation.
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