Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, currently serving a year of home detention, sparked controversy over the weekend after attending a barbecue held in her honor.
According to the New York Post, the event, several miles away from her home, has raised questions about potential violations of her court-ordered confinement.
Mosby, convicted earlier this year of mortgage fraud and perjury, was sentenced to home detention after being found guilty of making false statements on loan applications for two Florida vacation properties and falsely claiming financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic to withdraw funds from the city’s retirement account.
On Thursday, Mosby posted a video on Instagram showcasing her presence at the “thank-you barbecue” in Clarksville, Maryland.
The video shows Mosby, who was wearing an ankle monitor, surrounded by family, friends, and supporters.
Despite the conditions of her detention, which confine her to her home in Fells Point and communal areas of her apartment complex, Mosby appeared to have attended the event without obtaining pre-approval from the court.
Court documents and statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland confirm that Mosby’s movements are strictly regulated, allowing her to leave her residence only for specific reasons such as medical appointments, court dates, employment, child care, and meetings with her legal team.
However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Mosby is not required to consult with the government ahead of time for employment or childcare requests, potentially leaving some ambiguity around her attendance at the barbecue.
As of now, the online federal court system does not show any filing from Mosby or her legal team seeking permission to attend the event. This absence of documentation raises concerns about whether Mosby’s attendance was in compliance with the terms of her home detention.
The barbecue comes amid ongoing legal battles for Mosby, whose legal team recently filed a brief with the federal appeals court seeking to overturn her convictions.
Mosby has argued that her prosecution was “ill-advised and ill-conceived,” though she has not claimed it was racially or politically motivated.
Mosby’s legal troubles began when federal prosecutors charged her with withdrawing money from her retirement account under false pretenses during the pandemic, which she then used as down payments for two properties in Florida.
Additionally, prosecutors alleged she lied on mortgage applications, including failing to disclose a $5,000 gift from her husband, former Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, which ultimately contributed to her mortgage fraud conviction.
As Mosby’s legal team continues to challenge her convictions, the recent barbecue attendance may further complicate her case, potentially adding to the scrutiny surrounding her compliance with court orders.
