Inspector General Rules Face New Hurdles

The Maryland Attorney General has issued a legal note that could limit how Inspectors General (IGs) work across the state. The guidance says IGs must obey the same public‑records limits as other offices, including restrictions on personnel and financial files. Baltimore City has already started following this rule. The city’s IG, Isabel Cumming, received many documents with large blacked‑out sections while investigating the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. She says she can’t do her job properly when key information is hidden. Cumming’s experience shows a shift in how the IG office operates and undermines the purpose voters gave to the position: an independent check on waste, fraud, and abuse. Critics warn that this opinion is a blanket decision that other counties might copy. They argue it lets local leaders decide what their own watchdogs can see, creating conflicts of interest and weakening oversight.Political analyst John Dedie said the Attorney General’s note ignores how it will affect IGs statewide. He points out that when a political leader blocks records, the IG cannot investigate properly. The public has long supported IG offices for accountability and good government. This new rule goes against that expectation. The Attorney General’s office has not answered questions about how the decision fits with voters’ intentions, whether IGs can investigate without full records, or if it will spread to other jurisdictions. It has also been asked whether a law change could grant IGs special access for investigations. IG Cumming will discuss the issue in a public hearing on Tuesday at 7 p. m. The meeting is open to everyone and can be watched online.