President Trump wrote on Twitter that millions that had been given to Baltimore had been wasted or stolen, writing: “Baltimore’s numbers are the worst in the United States on Crime and the Economy.
Billions of dollars have been pumped in over the years, but to no avail. The money was stolen or wasted.”
He also said to reporters: “I’m pointing out the tremendous corruption that’s taken place in Baltimore and other Democrat-run cities. All you have to do is look at the past mayors in Baltimore to see what’s happened.”
A spokesperson for Democratic Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young, Lester Davis, said: “We know that this president often does not rely on the truth, so we’re not going to dignify nonsense with a response. It’s just patently false.”
According to an analysis of the city, millions of dollars that have been invested in the city are not accounted for.
“The audit notes numerous ‘significant deficiencies’ and ‘material weaknesses’ across almost every department and found a consistent lack of any internal tracking of funds. The accounting for some departments was found to be so lacking that the sum of questioned funds is simply labeled ‘Unknown,’” the Daily Mail reported.
The Daily Mail also noted that “City Auditor Audrey Askew resigned from her post in February of this year amid rumors that she had been pressured to ‘write off’ sums of money that were otherwise unaccounted for.”
In April, the Baltimore Brew reported that Askew “expressed concern to colleagues that she was getting incorrect and unsupported numbers from the Finance Department.”
It added: “The numbers – which Finance said accounted for federal grants to city agencies as well as cash and investments on hand – led Askew to press for a “qualified” or “modified” opinion to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
“Such an opinion could affect Baltimore’s credit rating and also result in queries by federal agencies over the city’s use of grant money. As a result, Askew was encouraged to “go easy” on city finances.”
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