Business associate of Nick Mosby says he has been subpoenaed
A business associate of Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby confirmed Monday that he has received a federal grand jury subpoena for Mosby’s business records.
Also Monday, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and the office of Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott weighed in on the criminal investigation of Mosby and his wife, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, while a contingent of the Democratic couple’s supporters gathered outside City Hall.
Micah Wainwright, an accountant, is listed as the registered agent for Nick Mosby’s now-defunct consulting company, Monumental Squared LLC. Wainwright said he received the subpoena and has provided documents, but declined to discuss the business with The Baltimore Sun.
“That’s private, but I couldn’t keep it private from the FBI,” Wainwright told a reporter.
Scott has not spoken publicly on the matter, but spokesman Cal Harris said the mayor was “aware of the pending investigation, but is rightfully focusing his energy on addressing the urgent challenges facing Baltimoreans.” The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for The Sun to interview Scott.
Appearing at an event in Ellicott City to support Asian American-owned businesses, Hogan called the investigation “very troubling.”
“I was totally unaware of whatever I read in the news reports, but this federal investigation sounds pretty serious and, obviously, we’ve got to get to the bottom of this,” Hogan told WBAL-AM in Baltimore. “Another investigation of elected officials in Baltimore can’t be a good thing.”
A small group of Mosby supporters gathered in front of City Hall, interrupting an unrelated news conference held by Democratic Councilwoman Odette Ramos.
Demonstrator Kellie Vaughan called the probe a “witch hunt,” echoing the characterization by the Mosbys’ attorney.
“It’s discouraging young Black leaders, who would stand up for Baltimore City but are afraid that when we step forward, that we will be attacked like the Mosbys have,” she said. “We’re here to say: ‘Stop the witch hunt. Let them have their day in court. Let the investigation go on.’ ”
Leo Burroughs Jr., who finished last in the seven-person Democratic primary Nick Mosby won last year, said the investigation was orchestrated by city officials, including Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming.
“The people will decide. The justice system will decide. But they should not be set up and ripped off … They’re viciously under attack by the powers that be,” he said.
Cumming, at Marilyn Mosby’s request, opened an investigation of the state attorney’s travels and private business. Cumming’s report found Mosby spent 144 days away from her office in 2018 and 2019; Mosby’s office has disputed the number of days.
Rally participant Tyrone Post suggested Nick Mosby’s efforts to encourage more minority participation in city contracts made him a target.
“A lot of people don’t like to hear that stuff,” he said. “They want the money for themselves.”
Nick Mosby created Monumental Squared in January 2017, after an unsuccessful for mayor. Its bare-bones website says the company was created to “focus on intersecting synergies in the public and private arena,” but its clients are not specified. The site promotes the company as specializing in construction supplies, business development, public affairs and strategic communication.
The company’s address is a coworking space in Mount Washington, with a phone number that goes to a general voice mailbox for that office.
State business records show the business was forfeited in late 2019 for failure to file paperwork related to 2018.
Federal investigators have subpoenaed a wide range of records and organizations related to the Mosbys, including from churches asking for records of charitable donations made by Nick Mosby. The Sun obtained a federal grand jury subpoena sent to Marilyn Mosby’s campaign treasurer, which he forwarded in an email to state election officials.
The Mosbys’ attorney, A. Scott Bolden, said Friday that the Mosbys were the victims of a “political witch hunt” by federal investigators because they are “progressive change agents.” He did not respond to questions Monday about the Monumental Squared subpoena.
“I can assure you and the people of Baltimore, they have done nothing illegal, inappropriate or unlawful,” Bolden said Friday. “As they’ve done with every other baseless charge and investigation lodged against them, they have every intent to fully cooperate with the investigation, to fight for the truth to come out, while continuing to fight for the citizens of a city that they both love, and are blessed to serve.”
City Solicitor Jim Shea said the city’s law department has not been subpoenaed in connection with the federal investigation. Shea said he was unaware if any city departments or offices had received subpoenas beyond the council president.
“I don’t think so. I think people usually would tell me,” he said. Shea said he has not been contacted by Nick Mosby regarding the matter, and learned of the investigation via The Sun.
Shea said he has not spoken to the FBI regarding the investigation, but the city stands ready to cooperate.
“I have a standing offer to cooperate and facilitate the service for whatever they would like,” he said, noting he made that general offer several months ago and before learning of the Mosby investigation.