Embattled Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh resigned on Thursday following the growing scandal over the sales of her self-published children’s book series Healthy Holly.
The Baltimore Sun reports that Pugh submitted her letter of resignation dated for Thursday and effective immediately. Pugh did not attend the news conference surrounding her resignation announcement, and attorney Steven Silverman, who announced the resignation, took no questions.
“Dear citizens of Baltimore, I would like to thank you for allowing me to serve as the 50th mayor. It has been an honor and a privilege,” the resignation statement from Pugh, read by Silverman noted according to WBALTV. “Today, I am submitting my written resignation to the Baltimore City Council. I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore and the credibility of the Office of the Mayor. Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward.”
“I want to thank all of our department heads and staff who work hard every day to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and visit our city,” the statement added. “I also want to thank Jack Young, the president of the City Council, for his steadfast leadership in my absence. I wish you well in your new role as mayor of Baltimore City.
City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young will now be mayor of the city automatically, with no formal swearing-in required, although WBALTV noted that one will likely be scheduled at a later date.
The resignation comes after federal agents raided Pugh’s home and City Hall office just a week ago, and as Pugh has been on an indefinite leave from office (which she has been for more than a month) as she recovers from pneumonia.
In early April, the entire Baltimore City Council, with the exception of Young, who was acting as mayor at the time, sent out a letter calling for Pugh’s resignation.