The Baltimore City Council is calling on Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign as she faces scrutiny over money she made from selling copies of her self-published children's books to the University of Maryland Medical System, where she sat on the board, according to a Reuters report.
Seven things to know:
1. The 14 council members wrote a letter to Ms. Pugh that was released on April 8, urging her to immediately resign.
2. The two-sentence letter states: "The entire membership of the Baltimore City Council believes that it is not in the best interest of the city of Baltimore for you to continue to serve as mayor. We urge you to tender your resignation, effective immediately."
3. The letter comes about a week after Ms. Pugh said she would take an "indefinite" leave of absence as mayor amid questions about the book deal.
4. In response to the letter, Ms. Pugh’s office released a statement saying her leave of absence was for health reasons and that she “fully intends to resume the duties of her office.”
5. Ms. Pugh has faced public scrutiny since it was revealed that Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System paid her $500,000 for 100,000 copies of her "Healthy Holly" children's books.
6. Ms. Pugh has since resigned from the University of Maryland Medical System board of directors.
7. She reportedly also has apologized for the business arrangement with the university and called it "a regrettable mistake."