Baltimore’s top government watchdog is reportedly taking legal action against Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott, accusing his administration of blocking access to records tied to potential misuse of public funds.
Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Cumming’s office filed suit Tuesday in local court, alleging that Scott’s actions are hindering officials’ “ability to adequately investigate complaints of fraud, financial waste, and abuse in City government.” At the center of the dispute is payroll information related to the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), a city agency Scott created in 2020 with the stated goal of reducing gun violence through community organizing.
According to multiple reports cited in the complaint, Scott has repeatedly barred Cumming from accessing payroll data for MONSE. The inspector general’s office argues that without full access to those records, it cannot effectively carry out its oversight responsibilities.
The lawsuit claims the city initially cooperated with document requests from Cumming’s office but then “took a stunning about face” in 2025 as her current investigation progressed. Instead of providing full records, Scott’s administration allegedly released heavily redacted documents, asserting that state law invalidates certain requests made by the inspector general.
Cumming disputes that interpretation. In the filing, her office contends that the mayor’s position “disregards the plain language of the City Charter and the independence enshrined upon the [inspector general’s office] through the will of the people.” The lawsuit argues that denying direct access to critical information undermines the office’s legally mandated duties and responsibilities.
Scott, for his part, has defended his administration’s actions. Speaking earlier this month, he said, “The state law is clear. The actions that we took complied with the state law,” according to Fox45.
In a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, the mayor’s office emphasized its stated commitment to transparency, while declining to comment on the pending litigation.
“As we have noted from the beginning, the Mayor remains committed to transparency and to an [inspector general’s office] that is both effective and complies with the law,” the statement said.
The administration added that, separate from the lawsuit, it remains “eager for the Law Department to work with the [Cumming] to outline renewed protocols that ensure the Inspector General’s work proceeds uninterrupted, while complying with state law.”
The legal standoff comes against the backdrop of broader concerns about government spending in Maryland. A December report from the state’s Office of Personnel Services and Benefits found that excessive overtime and other missteps among government employees cost Maryland taxpayers millions of dollars. While that report addressed state-level issues, it underscores heightened scrutiny of public spending across the state.
Meanwhile, Maryland legislators introduced a bill Tuesday that would explicitly clarify that Cumming’s requests are not subject to the state law Scott’s office cites as justification for withholding records. If passed, the measure could directly address the dispute at the heart of the lawsuit.
For now, the matter rests in the courts. The case raises questions about the balance between executive authority and independent oversight in one of Maryland’s largest cities. As the lawsuit moves forward, taxpayers will be watching closely to see whether the inspector general is granted the access she says is necessary to investigate potential fraud, waste, and abuse within Baltimore’s city government.
