As Twitchy reported earlier, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has a very lucrative self-publishing business on the side, cranking out a series called “Healthy Holly” that’s sold remarkably well. Why, the University of Maryland Medical System alone purchased an astounding 100,000 copies at a cost of $500,000 — while Pugh happened to be sitting on the UMMS board of directors.

Intrepid reporters did track down another 8,700 unsolicited and unopened boxes of “Health Holly” books at a decrepit Baltimore School District Warehouse, but they were denied entrance to see the books.

Just a couple of days later, Pugh admitted that she hadn’t sold a single one of her “Healthy Holly” children’s books to anyone other than UMMS. As a bonus, the man who illustrated the books — for free — hadn’t even heard of the lucrative deal.

Now Pugh says she’s taking a leave of absence to get all of her stories straight.

BREAKING: Baltimore's mayor taking a leave of absence as a political scandal intensifies about highly lucrative arrangements to sell her children's book series, including $500,000 sale to university-based health care system. https://t.co/O0057khtuR — The Associated Press (@AP) April 1, 2019

Baltimore: Still the one American city that makes Chicago go, "Damn, now that's corrupt!" — JP (@jaredputnam) April 1, 2019

Corruption in a fine city such as Baltimore, who would have guessed. — Buddy (@acoustic_guitr) April 1, 2019

Corruption runs wild in Baltimore. — Mian Mir Qadree (@OhAllahHelpUs) April 1, 2019

Wow that’s so unlike Baltimore. — Con Agent (@con_agent) April 1, 2019

We own mayor scandals here. — GlennFleming (@glennjr1975) April 1, 2019

Bankrupt cities love their democrat mayors! — Conrad Fisher (@ConradFisher) April 1, 2019

Damn, this city has ISSUES — Devin Nunes Uncle Ctalmon (@CTalmon) April 1, 2019

Baltimore can’t win for losing. I really didn’t see this one coming and believe me I have seen it all following Baltimore politics. — Safiyah Noor (@SafiyahNoor1) April 1, 2019

This story IDs the governor as GOP but omits the main subject's party affiliation — Elizabeth Dinan (@DinanElizabeth) April 1, 2019

Is she D or R? Your headline forgot to mention it. — Filthy Comfortable (@GOPcomedy) April 1, 2019

Isn’t that convenient? Pugh is, of course, a Democrat.

DEMOCRAT since this headline fails to mention it — Krista A ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Build The Wall (@LizLemon5759) April 1, 2019

She’s a Democrat. Why does the AP always leave out this detail? — Last Independent ? (@coloradosnow26) April 1, 2019

TIP: When they don't mention the politician's party and they're involved in a scandal – It's always a Democrat. pic.twitter.com/60WUB50WHn — Middle America (@MiddleAmericaMe) April 1, 2019

I approve of this leave of absence. It takes time and concentration to properly prepare a resignation letter and speech. — Baltimore RAS (@BaltimoreRAS) April 1, 2019

Resign so you can take all the time you need to focus on your health. — Jack Ziottle (@ziottle) April 1, 2019

leave of absence? you got busted. resign. life goes on. all of these politicians try to dip their fingers in the cookie jar. Be good at it or get busted. — Real Truth Stings (@RealStings) April 1, 2019

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