BALTIMORE (AP) - Close advisers to Baltimore’s embattled mayor said Tuesday that she’s staying out of public view because of a serious case of pneumonia, not the mounting scandal involving her sale of her children’s books.
The Baltimore Sun reported that Catherine Pugh continues to convalesce at home and is under doctors’ supervision. She abruptly took leave April 1.
“While her well-known tireless energy has been diminished by this illness, her doctors are confident she will recover her health and strength in due course,” Pugh’s personal attorney, Steven Silverman, told The Sun. “I know she is grateful for the good wishes of concern and support that she’s received.”
Pugh was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in late March, before she took leave and just as the scandal began to grow.
The scandal involves her sales of her “Healthy Holly” children’s books to the University of Maryland Medical System, where she sat on the board. Details also emerged that she had collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for her books from entities doing business with the city of Baltimore.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan asked a state prosecutor to begin a criminal investigation.
Many city and state lawmakers have called for her resignation. All but one member of the Baltimore City Council have called for Pugh to step down. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris told The Sun that Baltimore needs a new leader.
“There are enough questions - legitimate questions cast about this - that I think the mayor probably can no longer be an effective leader of the city,” the Republican said.
But the people closest to Pugh say her health, not the scandal, is keeping her from public view.
“She’s recovering day by day,” said James Bentley, her spokesman. “She’s focused on getting healthy, and remains committed to Baltimore.”
The Sun reported that Pugh, 69, has not publicly faced serious medical issues previously. Neither she nor her advisers have offered details about the nature of her pneumonia.
Dr. Paul Auwaerter, clinical director of the division of infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told the newspaper that recovery times can vary.
After people seek treatment, and particularly if they’ve been hospitalized, they are on average “feeling better within 48 to 72 hours,” though it “might take five to seven days” to bounce back completely, he said.
But he said it can take longer if complicating factors are involved, such as stress.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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