Baltimore Mayor Addresses Dispute with Inspector General

Scott and Cumming at odds over financial records and investigations

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:11pm

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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the ongoing dispute between his administration and Inspector General Isabel Cumming in a recent interview. Cumming has filed a lawsuit against Scott, claiming his office has obstructed the OIG's investigations into financial waste and fraud in city government. Scott argues that the information Cumming is seeking is protected and releasing it would put the city at risk of liability.

Why it matters

The conflict between the mayor and the inspector general highlights the tension between government transparency and protecting sensitive information. As the city's top watchdog, the inspector general plays a crucial role in rooting out waste and corruption, but the mayor's office is concerned about the potential legal risks of releasing certain records.

The details

In the interview, Scott said his administration wants the inspector general to be able to do her job, but that it must be done in accordance with Maryland state law. Cumming alleges in her lawsuit that the mayor's office has deliberately withheld records she had subpoenaed from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

  • The lawsuit was filed by Cumming in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

The players

Brandon Scott

The current mayor of Baltimore.

Isabel Cumming

The inspector general of Baltimore, who has filed a lawsuit against the mayor's office.

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What they’re saying

“We want the inspector general to be able to do her job, but that job has to be done in accordance with the law of the state of Maryland.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore (WBAL)

“You have to understand that if this information that is protected gets out, right, it puts the jurisdictions at risk and puts them at high risk of liability. And that's the part that we cannot ignore, right? You know, this information were to get into someone's hands, that would be a huge, huge liability.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore (WBAL)

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by Inspector General Cumming against Mayor Scott is ongoing, and the outcome will likely have significant implications for the balance of power and transparency in Baltimore city government.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the delicate balance that government leaders must strike between upholding transparency and protecting sensitive information. As the city's top watchdog, the inspector general plays a crucial role, but the mayor's office is concerned about potential legal risks of releasing certain records.