Will Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon appear at an event with Obama scheduled for next week?

"As the first woman to hold this office in Baltimore, Mayor Dixon is a trailblazer, and she has spent a lifetime working to make life better for Baltimore's families. From her years as a Kindergarten teacher to serving as president of the Baltimore City Council to fighting poverty and homelessness as Baltimore's mayor, Mayor Dixon has worked to bring change that matters in people's lives. As a working mother herself, she knows firsthand the demands on working families in our country, and she is committed to making policies that work for the future of Baltimore. I look forward to working with her to bring change in the months and years to come." -- Senator Barack Obama, Jan. 21, 2008

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon broke ranks with the Maryland Democrat establishment, most of whom enthusiastically backed Hillary Clinton in the States' primaries, and endorsed Barack Obama on MLK day, Jan. 21, 2008. Dixon was one of the first prominent Maryland politicians to back Obama. Her backing led to other State Democrats, breaking ranks and rallying to Obama's side.

Now, Mayor Dixon is under a cloud of scandal. And a big question looms: Will President-elect Obama appear with his old friend at a previously scheduled visit to the city next week?

Excerpt from the Baltimore Sun, Jan. 10:

Baltimore Mayor Sheila A. Dixon was charged today with 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office, becoming the city's first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted.

The case stems in part from at least $15,348 in gifts Dixon allegedly received from her former boyfriend, prominent city developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, while she was City Council president. She also is accused of using as much as $3,400 in gift cards, some donated to her office for distribution to "needy families," to purchase Best Buy electronics and other items for herself and her staff.

Lipscomb [in photo to her left] was not indicted in the Dixon case, but he and City Councilwoman Helen L. Holton [photo] were charged this week in a separate $12,500 bribery scheme. Both cases grew out of a nearly three-year probe by the state prosecutor into City Hall corruption.

It is unclear what the indictment will mean for the mayor. She has pledged to remain focused on her job, and many local officials rallied behind her today. But even ceremonial events will take on new dimensions. Many wondered today, for example, whether Dixon will appear with president-elect Barack Obama next week when he makes a planned stop in the city.

If convicted on all charges, the 55-year-old former teacher and mother of two could be sentenced to 85 years in prison. The most serious charges, two counts of felony theft, each carry a possible 15-year prison term.

The article goes on to cite a list of stores where Mayor Dixon allegedly bought gifts on gift cards provided by those seeking favorable consideration from her office, including: Target, Best Buy, Old Navy, Circuit City, and Toys 'R Us.

LINKS

This article is featured story this morning on Google Blog Search News front page.

Our friends at Gateway have the video of the local TV news report, announcing the story. The reporter is almost breathless outside the courtroom, reporting on 11 indictments of the city's Mayor.

Gateway Pundit: Another Rotten Lib... Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Indicted