Testimony of key Dixon aide postponed

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - State Prosecutors investigating corruption at City Hall have postponed the testimony of a key Dixon aide before a grand jury this week.

Anthony McCarthy, former communications director for Mayor Sheila Dixon was subpoenaed last week to appear before the Grand Jury Thursday.

But knowledgeable sources said prosecutors informed McCarthy’s attorney on Wednesday afternoon his testimony before the grand jury was being indefinitely postponed. The source cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for the delay.

McCarthy declined to comment.

The delay comes as the grand jury is scheduled to continue hearing testimony from witnesses in an ongoing probe into corruption at City Hall.

An affidavit filed by state prosecutors in November seeking a search warrant of the offices of Doracon indicated the probe is focusing on Dixon’s relationship with Ron Lipscomb, the firm’s owner and a prominent city contractor. Prosecutors allege in the search warrant that Dixon accepted gifts from Lipscomb while she voted on tax breaks for projects that benefited his company.

On Tuesday sources said prosecutors were probing alleged misuse of gift cards obtained by Dixon for needy families.

On Monday several city hall employees were seen entering the grand jury room, along with prominent city developer Pat Turner, who played a key role in the city’s $97 million Spinnaker Bay condominium and office space project.

Dixon placed McCarthy, her former communications chief, on administrative leave in November — and later dismissed him — after Baltimore County police said they were investigating his alleged “inappropriate behavior.”

At the time, Dixon described the allegations, which McCarthy and police both declined to detail, as “shocking.”

Baltimore County prosecutors later cleared McCarthy, refusing to charge him.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

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