WJZ

Also, with President-elect Barack Obama’s visit drawing closer, the mayor says she doesn’t know what her role will be. She has long been one of his biggest supporters, but now faces the tarnish of charges that include theft, perjury and misconduct in office.

[...]

As often as people say she’s innocent until proven guilty, as long as they say this is not going to stop city government from functioning, it’s got to be a distraction,” said Johns Hopkins political science professor Matthew Crenson.

He says the indictment has got to weigh on Obama as he visits the city this weekend. Will he want to be seen with a mayor under indictment?

“He may try not to ignore her. I think he has to acknowledge her, but probably put a little distance between them,” Crenson said.

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