WASHINGTON — One of the Prince George’s County liquor board officials caught up in a federal bribery investigation stepped down Friday after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan demanded his resignation, the governor’s office said.
Anuj Sud, a liquor board commissioner, is one of four people indicted as part of an FBI investigation into corruption on the board, which regulates liquor licenses in the county.
Another official and two business owners also face federal bribery charges. Federal prosecutors indicate their multiyear corruption investigation will lead to two elected officials being charged next week.
The corruption allegations outrage County Executive Rushern Baker who said Friday he wants to examine the process for making appointments to the board.
“I’m disappointed and I’m quite honestly pissed off,” Baker said. “We have spent the last six years working very hard to turn around the image of the county.”
Baker’s predecessor as county executive, Jack Johnson, pleaded guilty to corruption and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Shortly after taking office, Baker established an Office of Ethics and Accountability and implemented whistleblower protection in the Prince George’s County government.
“Any time an elected official abuses their position it’s a betrayal to not only to the people of Prince George’s County but the state of Maryland,” Baker said. “Nothing gives you the right to profit from your position.”
Baker said he plans to talk with legislative leaders in Annapolis about how state appointments to the county liquor board are made.
“That’s really what this is about — how the appointment process [happens] and the checks and balances and oversight,” Baker said.
He added, “We don’t have the authority to appoint these individuals who are operating in our county, but we will hold them accountable.”
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
