Dixon: ‘Truth will come out’ at trial 

Posted: 7:11 pm Wed, November 4, 2009
By Brendan Kearney
Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer

Less than a week before jury selection begins in the gift card theft trial that could end her political career, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said she’s “really excited” about the prospect of putting the charges behind her.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Dixon said she’s looking forward to “getting it over with and moving on with my life.”

The Democratic mayor is accused of stealing gift cards donated for needy families, charges she has denied.

Asked about the possible effect of plea deals prosecutors made earlier this year with city developers, including her former boyfriend Ronald H. Lipscomb, Dixon eventually took off her glasses and said, “A lot of truth will come out, and that’s all I have to say about that.”

Dixon also says she’s given no thought to stepping down.

As for leading the city over the next few weeks while sitting in a courtroom a block away from her City Hall office, Dixon said she had spoken with her staff, her attorneys and the presiding judge, Dennis M. Sweeney, and “we have a system in place.”

“The city will not stop running,” she said. “My agencies are very focused. We are going to continue to move forward.”

Dixon could be thrown out of office if convicted of any of the charges against her. Even if she’s found innocent, she still faces a separate perjury indictment that charges her with lying about gifts from Lipscomb, a developer who received tax breaks from the city.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.