Cautions Critics, 'Wait For The Facts'

This evening, state Democratic Party Chair Michael Cryor came out in defense of longtime legislator and alleged target of a federal investigation, state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Forestville), while chiding state Republicans for scandals of their own.

FBI agents raided Currie's home for documents last week, as well as the headquarters of Shoppers Food Warehouse in Lanham, a company for which Currie has consulted without disclosing to the State Ethics Commission.

"Senator Currie has a long and exemplary record of service to his community and the state of Maryland," Cyor said in a statement.

Last week, a spokesperson for the grocery store's parent company, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, told The Baltimore Sun that Currie's consulting work is the focus of the probe, while it remains unknown whether Currie received a letter informing him he is the target of the investigation.

But Cryor implores Marylanders "to reserve judgment on any man or woman with such a track record until all the facts are in and the scrutiny has run its course."

"This is not a time for the Republican Party or anyone else to use vague and uncertain events as a smear tactic to score political points," he continued. "That is especially true of an organization where multiple scandals involving its members have recently run their course. One would think that such a group would exercise a little restraint before making broad assumptions and issuing accusations for the sake of political gain."

When reached by PolitickerMD.com, Currie referred all inquiries to his lawyer, who declined to comment.

He was elected to represent Prince George's County in the House of Delegates in 1987, moved up to the Senate in 1995 and has chaired the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee since 2002.

Cryor insists that Currie's role as chairman "has earned [him] bipartisan respect and praise for his integrity and fairness," yet the statement did not address whether he is innocent or will be exonerated.