A pastor of a prominent Baltimore church came to the defense of state attorney Marilyn Mosby, 41, after she was indicted by a federal grand jury for perjury and making false statements on loan applications.
According to The Christian Post, Mosby, who's best known for prosecuting the police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray in 2015, pleaded her innocence at the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Empowerment Temple, in Northwest Baltimore on Sunday.
The indictment, issued last Thursday, accuses Mosby of falsely reporting that she "experienced adverse financial consequences" because of the COVID-19 pandemic when requesting a one-time withdrawal from her retirement account.
"Mosby had not experienced adverse financial consequences stemming from the Coronavirus as a result of 'being quarantined, furloughed, or laid off' or 'having reduced work hours' or 'being unable to work due to lack of childcare' or 'the closing or reduction of hours of a business I own or operate,'" the indictment states.
"In fact, Mosby's gross salary in 2020 was $247,955.58, and it was never reduced," it noted.
"She received bi-weekly gross pay direct deposits for $9,183.54 in all the months leading up to her 'City of Baltimore Retirement Savings and Deferred Compensation Plans 457(b) Coronavirus-Related Distribution Request' in May 2020. Rather than experiencing a reduction in income in 2020, Mosby's gross salary in 2020 increased over her gross salary in 2019, which was $238,772.04."
Mosby has also been charged with failing to report that she and her husband owed tens of thousands of dollars in federal taxes to the IRS when applying for mortgages for their vacation homes in Kissimmee and Longboat Key, Florida.
According to the indictment, the prosecutor falsely denied that she was "presently delinquent or in default on any Federal debt or any other loan, mortgage, financial obligation, bond, or loan guarantee."
During a Sunday church service at Empowerment Temple, Rev. Robert Turner dismissed the indictment as a "demonic attack" against Mosby. He invited Mosby on stage, alongside other congregants, and prayed for her.
"We ask right now in the name of Jesus that you cover, that you anoint, that you protect this, your child, from all the fiery darts of the enemy, that you bless her and her family, keep them strong, keep them fearless," Turner said.
"We rebuke the enemy and his attack on their life. The devil is a liar," the reverend declared. "We surround her physically now but spiritually forevermore as we intercede on her behalf."
Turner asked God to protect her and pleaded with Him to serve as Mosby's "advocate in the courtroom."
After praying, he extended financial support to Mosby amid the legal challenges. She denied the offer. In response, Turner commended her for her integrity.
"So for anybody watching that thinks she's all about money, Pastor Turner was offering to give her some money. … Empowerment Temple was prepared to give her some money, and I want whoever may serve on the jury to know she turned down … money," he said.
According to The Christian Post, Mosby also addressed charges before the congregation and pleaded her innocence.
"As a family, we are in the fight of our lives. But I stand before you confident and covered, trusting that with God on our side, I believe the fight is already fixed in my favor," she said.
"I am innocent of the charges levied against me," she contended. "I have done nothing wrong, and I'm confident that I'll be exonerated, and my name will be cleared."
If convicted, Mosby faces up to five years in federal prison for each of the two counts of perjury and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each of the two counts of the false mortgage applications.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
