Ferguson: McGrath indictment confirms lawmakers’ suspicions

Ferguson: McGrath indictment confirms lawmakers’ suspicions

Roy McGrath at an April 2020 press conference at the State House. Law enforcement is looking for him after he missed a federal court date Monday. Governor's Office photo

@BryanRenbaum

Senate President Bill Ferguson Tuesday responded to news of the indictment of Gov. Larry Hogan’s former chief of staff Roy McGrath on state and federal charges saying the charges only serve to confirm what lawmakers had already suspected for almost a year now.

“Today’s federal and state indictments of Roy McGrath and his conduct as a Maryland public official sadly confirmed what the legislature learned during the last year through oversight hearings,” Ferguson said in a statement. “As a result of the oversight hearings, the legislature passed Senate Bill 2 during the last legislative session.”

Ferguson added: “Among other things, the bill implemented strict compensation protocols and accountability measures to reform the Maryland Environmental Service. I hope that this legislation, coupled with the judicial process, ensures a similar situation can never happen again in Maryland.”

McGrath was indicted on Tuesday on wire fraud and embezzlement charges related to the six-figure severance payout he received after leaving his position as director of the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) on May 30, 2020.

McGrath left that position to serve as Hogan’s chief of staff, a position he held from June 1, 2020 to Aug. 17, 2020. McGrath left the governor’s office shortly after news of the severance was made public.

McGrath declined to answer most of the questions lawmakers had asked about his severance at an oversight hearing that was held last December.

Hogan’s communications director, Michael Ricci, in an email to MarylandReporter.com, called the charges “very serious and deeply troubling.”

“Marylanders deserve to know that their public officials are held to the highest ethical standards. Over the last year, our office has actively assisted law enforcement in these ongoing investigations. We commend both federal and state prosecutors for their diligence and professionalism. As this case moves to the courts, we are confident that the justice system will uphold the public trust,” Ricci added.

If McGrath is convicted on all of the federal charges, which include four counts of wire fraud and two counts of embezzlement, he could face up to 100 years in prison. Additionally, McGrath faces 27 state charges that each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

About The Author

Bryan Renbaum

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Reporter Bryan Renbaum served as the Capitol Hill Correspondent for Talk Media News for the past three-and-a-half years, filing print, radio and video reports on the Senate and the House of Representatives. He covered congressional reaction to the inauguration of President Donald Trump as well as the confirmation hearings of attorneys general Jeff Sessions and William Barr and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He also filed breaking news reports on the 2017 shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and three others. Previously Bryan broke multiple stories with the Baltimore Post-Examiner including sexual assault scandals at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a texting scandal on the women’s lacrosse team at that school for which he was interviewed by ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He also covered the Maryland General Assembly during the 2016 legislative session as an intern for Maryland Reporter. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from McDaniel College. If you have additional questions or comments contact Bryan at: [email protected]

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