Matthew Hay Brown of the The Baltimore Sun reports that Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Minority Whip, sent a letter to colleges in his congressional district encouraging them to teach their students about how beneficial the new health care reform law is. Hoyer’s letter indicates that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have also sent letters on this same subject.

The Sun report repeats the saw that the law will become more popular as time goes on and people learn more about it (Cue then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement about passing the bill so we can find out what’s in it.)

Hoyer’s letter is below: (Continue reading…)

News release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Rep. Andy Harris regarding Osama bin Laden: “Last night, President Obama announced that American forces had killed terrorist and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. This is great news for the security of America, as well as for our troops at home and overseas who continue to protect us from terrorism every day. I want to thank and congratulate all of our men and women in the Armed Forces – their hard work and bravery made this possible. This is a great day for the United States of America.”

US Attorney

An initial appearance and arraignment is scheduled for Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, age 59, of Mitchellville, Maryalnd, on May 4th at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte, Courtroom 4C, U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Mrs. Johnson is charged with conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering in connection with a federal investigation that resulted in the execution of a search warrant at her home on November 12, 2010. The criminal information alleges: that after receiving instrcutions from a co-conspirator, Leslie Johnson refused to open the door to FBI and IRS-CI agents who were attempting to execute the federal search warrant; that Leslie Johnson destroyed a $100,000 check from a developer that had been given to her co-conspirator; and that Leslie Johnson hid $79,600 in cash that was hidden in her home, in order to prevent the evidence from being used in the ongoing investigation and any subsequent criminal proceedings. If convicted, Leslie Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy. A criminal information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

US Attorney

BALTIMORE DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Robert Peterson, age 37, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. Judge Motz enhanced Peterson’s sentence upon finding that he is a career offender based on four previous drug convictions.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III.

According to Peterson’s guilty plea, during January and February 2010, detectives observed Peterson bring a supply of drugs to a house in the 1200 block of E. Federal Street, where a co-defendant sold the illegal drugs. Upon executing a search warrant at the location, detectives seized 155 vials of crack cocaine, a bag containing 9 grams of crack cocaine and 23 vials of heroin. Peterson admits that he conspired to distribute 15.37 grams of crack cocaine and 1.46 grams of heroin.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine Celeste, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who prosecuted the case.