John Matthews
WMAL.com
ANNAPOLIS — For something called the “Peace Cross,” there sure is a lot of battling going on between two of Maryland’s top elected officials.
Republican Governor Larry Hogan blasted Democrat Attorney General Broan Frosh Wednesday for declining to follow through on Hogan’s directive to file an amicus brief in support of Bladensburg’s World War I Memorial. A federal court has ruled the memorial is unconstitutional because sits on public land and is an expression of a specific religion.
Hogan has called last month’s ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit “an affront to veterans” that “should not be allowed to stand.” He blasted Frosh in a letter for missing a deadline to respond to the court ruling.
“The state of Maryland may have lost its only opportunity to be heard in this case, which has implications beyond the Peace Cross,” Hogan wrote. “It is fundamentally inconsistent with your constitutional and ethical duties to the State to wait until the day of a deadline to suggest that you do not intend to perform as instructed. Your failure in this instance is a dereliction of these duties and a disservice to all Marylanders.”
A spokeswoman for Frosh told the Washington Post that nearly 40 briefs have already been filed in the case and that the Attorney General will continue to monitor the situation. She also noted that Governor Hogan could have filed his own brief if he felt that strongly about the memorial.
Frosh also responded to Governor Hogan with a strongly-worded letter of his own, accusing Hogan of failing to respond to multiple requests for input on legal actions Frosh has taken against the Trump administration’s policies on health care, education, immigration and the environment.
“All of these actions by the Trump administration, as well as many others brought to your attention by this office, are illegal,” Frosh wrote. “Yet you have not responded to any of my letters seeking your comment or input. Nor have you lifted your voice in any meaningful way to protect our constituents from President Trump’s reckless, lawless actions. We would welcome your support in these matters in which the health, safety and well-being of Marylanders are at stake.”
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