Gov. Hogan Requests State Prosecutor Investigate Pugh's Book Sales

Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday asked the state prosecutor to investigate Mayor Catherine Pugh's book sales to the University of Maryland Medical System while she was a board member.

In a letter to State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt, Hogan called allegations related to the sales "deeply disturbing." Going back to 2011, Pugh has received $500,000 for her "Healthy Holly" children's books. After the arrangement emerged, she returned $100,000 and resigned from the hospital system's board.

"These are deeply disturbing allegations," Hogan wrote. "I am particularly concerned about the UMMS sale because it has significant continuing ties with the State and receives very substantial public funding."

The state prosecutor's purview includes investigating violations of public ethics laws and bribery involving state, city or county employees.

Also Monday came revelations that Kaiser Permanente, which insures city employees, purchased 20,000 books from Pugh's LLC. Care First, the state's largest insurer, supported a nonprofit's purchase and distribution of Pugh's books.

Comptroller Peter Franchot on Monday called for Pugh's immediate resignation.

Hogan's request followed a complaint made last week by James Cabezas, a former investigator for that office. The Baltimore Sun reported that Cabezas alleged she intentionally omitted her company in annual disclosure forms.