BALTIMORE — The back and forth between the Governor and the Baltimore City State's Attorney continues.
This morning Mike Ricci, spokesman for the governor responded to a letter from Marilyn Mosby with a statement that said, "We certainly appreciate the State's Attorney's opinion, but again, the status quo is completely unacceptable. We look forward to working with both her and the Attorney General to get violent offenders off the streets and behind bars."
Last night Mosby sent a letter to the Governor in response to his letter directing Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh to prosecute more violent crimes in the city.
Mosby begins by stating that she was "completely stunned to learn from the media that [Hogan] instructed Attorney General Brian Frosh to take over the prosecution of suspects."
She stated that she has attempted to meet with the Governor on "several occasions" to discuss how they can work together to address the level of violent crime in the city.
"While I do not agree with the action you have taken, I’m encouraged that you are showing a sense of urgency in addressing the violent crime that has taken too many lives and destroyed too many families in our community," Mosby wrote.
This was in response to comments the Governor made in West Baltimore on Wednesday.
He directed Frosh to start prosecuting more violent crime cases in Baltimore.
He also ordered the Maryland State Police to dramatically increase the execution of high priority warrants for violent offenders.
Following the announcements, Hogan released a letter to the Attorney General further addressing his points.
“I hereby direct you to independently investigate and prosecute criminal suits alleging violations of state criminal laws that relate to any of the following offenses in which any element of the crime occurs within Baltimore City: crimes of violence; crimes related to firearms; and organized crime,” Hogan continued.
Hogan ended the letter, stating that his office will expect regular progress reports on the investigations and the progress the Attorney General will make in prosecuting those individuals.
In her letter, Mosby offered a few suggestions on how to tackle the gun violence together and how state support could be the most helpful.
She ended her letter with: "Let's talk real solutions for our city and our state."
