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Police Officers Take No-Confidence Vote On Leopold Amid Indictment Allegations

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — New fallout in the sex scandal involving Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. Another no-confidence vote was affirmed from county police amid concerns over whether he can withstand this indictment. The no-confidence vote was 100 percent unanimous. Police officials say it's the first time in their 42-year history that they've made a statement like this.

Mike Hellgren stays on the story with new insight into this high-profile case.

Anne Arundel County executive John Leopold faces another no confidence vote -- this time from rank-and-file police officers.

The state prosecutor claims Leopold used his security detail for demeaning personal tasks, including driving him to secret sexual encounters.

"The state prosecutor saw it as an opportunity to fire a shot across the bow of other politicians who might be tempted to misuse state employees in similar ways," said Andrew Levy, legal analyst.

Levy believes attacks on the state prosecutor's team -- the same office who brought down former Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon -- are unfounded here.

"You don't have to go back very far before you find Democrats who were the target of the office as well as Republicans," said Levy.

And the allegations go beyond sex. Susan Wichmann heads the watchdog group Common Cause.

"We are concerned about the allegations, of the political activity that he had county employees engage in on county dollars," Wichmann said.

That includes accusations county employees were forced to place campaign signs, collect and cash donations, and keep files on political enemies.

"Unfortunately the cases of some people who abuse the system help to ruin it for everybody," Wichmann said.

Leopold denies wrongdoing and vows to fight the allegations and stay in office despite their emotional drain.

"I don't think anyone is humanly capable of not letting that weigh on them," Levy said.

According to court records, the trial is scheduled for mid-June. Leopold will be arraigned March 26.

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