Presidential Candidate O'Malley Being Investigated For Furniture Purchases

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Former Governor Martin O'Malley's purchase of furniture from the governor's mansion at a deep discount is being called into question again.

The issue first surfaced this fall, but now we've learned the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney has launched a full investigation.

Mary Bubala has more.

Exactly one year ago, Martin O'Malley moved out of the governor's mansion in Annapolis and the furniture that went with him is now the subject of a criminal investigation.

More than 50 handpicked pieces of furniture were purchased for $62,000 with taxpayer money over the years. It was then sold to the governor for just over $9,000.

The Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office tells WJZ it's legally obligated to investigate, saying "our office performs due diligence on any complaint given to us. We don't have the option of picking and choosing."

Current Governor Larry Hogan became incensed when he moved in, only to find much of the furniture in the residential part of the mansion was gone.

From the campaign trail O'Malley's camp issued this statement to WJZ saying, "this is a bogus political attack that the Maryland republicans have tried to make stick, and it's sad that they're wasting taxpayer resources on it."

There was no investigation when Republican Bob Ehrlich moved out of the governor's mansion. Taxpayers paid nearly $10,000 for furnishing then re-sold to Ehrlich for just under a thousand dollars.

Maryland does have a policy that forbids private sales of state property to government officials.

This fall the state's ethics commission decided not to review the purchases, but a complaint was brought to the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney.

Our media partner The Baltimore Sun also found the state did not follow rules requiring it to solicit bids for the furniture and it did not charge mandated sales tax on the transaction.