Overview
- Direct access to files containing protected information, including personnel and financial records, was cut off for the inspector general’s office as of Friday morning.
- City Solicitor Ebony M. Thompson said implementing the restrictions was required after receiving guidance, warning that failure to do so would be a knowing and willful violation of the Maryland Public Information Act.
- Assistant Attorney General Shaunee L. Harrison advised that local charter provisions cannot compel disclosure of records exempt under the state transparency law, such as attorney-client privileged materials.
- Mayor Brandon Scott said the decision was made reluctantly to ensure compliance and limit liability, and the Law Department offered to work with the inspector general’s advisory board to develop new guidance.
- Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming called the limits unprecedented and harmful to investigations, while the city pointed to an audit that found an unauthorized IG-linked account with access to privileged documents and the advisory board warned that restricted access can slow probes.