UPDATED
From Harford County Councilman Aaron D. Penman:
The Cassilly Administration has weaponized the government to target and spy on those who seek oversight.
Evidence has been obtained that reveals the Cassilly Administration has monitored phone and email communication between Councilman Penman, Sheriff Gahler, former County Executive Barry Glassman, a private attorney, and targeted citizens. Cassilly, and his Administration have no authority to spy on or review electronic data outside of his Executive Branch. This deliberate and coordinated effort is believed to have been orchestrated in an attempt to monitor and hinder an ongoing investigation.
This unprecedented violation, along with a recent coordinated public attack is a clear and premediated scheme to harass, silence and intimidate Councilman Penman, who recently discovered the Cassilly Administration committed improper governmental practices and misappropriated County funds. This unethical and illegal action by the Cassilly Administration was committed right after the referral of the previous case to the State Prosecutor’s Office and could also be an attempt to spy on the communications concerning that investigation. This desperate measure taken by the Cassilly Administration to potentially influence an investigation and control government should give every elected official, government employee and law abiding citizen, concern that they could be next.
This misconduct in Office is not only a violation of the 4th amendment rights of those targeted, but an attack on democracy, along with the separation and independent powers of the Office of District B and Sheriff’s Office. There is no difference between this violation and an illegal search and seizure of Councilman Penman’s office and documents. A place that has private and confidential correspondences between Councilman Penman and constituents.
This shocking discovery is grounds for an immediate criminal investigation for misconduct in office and wiretapping violations, under Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 10-401, a felony punishable of up to five years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.
In the interim, Councilman Penman calls on County Executive Cassilly, and those directors who were involved to take a leave of absence. The Cassilly Administration clearly cannot be trusted. If they’ve gone to these lengths, they most certainly will spy on agencies investigating and reviewing the case, such as the State’s Attorney’s Office and Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
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From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
Please see the following in reference to a criminal complaint alleging violations of Maryland’s wiretap statute:
On July 27, 2023, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office received a criminal complaint alleging violations of Maryland’s wiretap statute involving the illegal interception of electronic communications. The victims identified in the complaint are elected and government officials as well as members of the business community.
As with any report of a crime we have a duty to investigate, treating reports of crime without bias towards the victims or suspect’s identity. If founded, this case is particularly egregious, as Maryland boasts some of the most comprehensive and stringent wiretapping laws in the nation, emphasizing the protection of citizens’ privacy.
Due to the complexity of the wiretapping statutes and that some of the victims are elected officials, detectives from Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division were assigned to this case and will report directly to the Harford County State’s Attorney, to ensure fairness and transparency.
Throughout the investigation, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office will refrain from disclosing additional information or making any comments.
Given the gravity of the accusations, we are committed to a thorough and diligent investigation to safeguard the rights of all citizens of Harford County.
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From Harford County government:
Harford County Executive’s Response to Councilman Penman’s Allegations
Harford County’s Information Communication Technology Policy and County Issued Cell Phones Policy make abundantly clear that no user of electronic devices issued by the County has any expectation of privacy as to information conveyed through the use of such information technology and that the County has the right at any time to inspect all electronically stored information on such technology devices.
On or about May 23, 2023, Councilman Aaron Penman made public allegations of an alleged misappropriation of seven million dollars in County funds. Councilman Penman refused to cooperate with the Executive Branch’s inquiry regarding his allegations.
The County Director of Administration, upon learning of Councilman Penman’s allegations, undertook a comprehensive internal investigation to ascertain whether there was any basis to suspect misuse of county funds. Having failed to find any evidence of improper activity, the Director of Administration, on May 30, 2023, directed county staff to review county servers for communications between Councilman Penman and Sheriff Gahler, Sheriff Gahler’s Information Officer and Campaign Manager, Erik Robey, and Councilman Penman’s campaign advisor, Joseph Snee, in order to exhaust a search of the County server for the most likely recipients of communications from Councilman Penman concerning his allegations of misappropriation of funds by Executive Branch members. The requested search disclosed no basis for the serious allegations being leveled by Councilman Penman.
It is well within the authority of the Executive Branch, when faced with allegations of wrongdoing by its own directors or employees, to conduct an examination of the electronic communications located on Harford County servers of the Councilmember accusing a County employee of improper use of County funds. At no time did the Executive Branch monitor Councilman Penman’s emails or cell phone. The examination conducted was appropriately limited in order to provide the level of confidentiality necessary to support an effective investigation of an alleged misuse of county funds.
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From the Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County:
The Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County has reviewed the criminal complaint made by Councilman Aaron Penman as well as the results of the investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office to date. As a result of this review and in an effort to encourage a transparent and independent investigation and prosecution determination, State’s Attorney Healey has referred this matter to the Office of the State Prosecutor, who has the legislative authority to investigate and prosecute these types of alleged crimes. Any additional questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Office of the State Prosecutor.
Sounds to me like Mr. Penman is a few cards short of a deck.
Sounds to me like Bob dealt Penman a royal flush. Now hopefully the flush will clean up our county, especially since Bob’s disbarred brother is not on the ethics commission like Bob also planned.
This is just more of Gahler and Robey turning the HCSO into a political machine. Gahler used to seem like a good guy, but seems more interested in playing Kingmaker and turning the Sheriff’s Office into a political playground. Robey was already in trouble for these kinds of tactics in Anne Arundel county, so Gahler knew what he was doing when he brought someone of Robey’s ilk here. During his first campaign for delegate, Penman basically insinuated then-candidate
Lauren Arikan was a terrorist because of a Turkish business association that contributed to her campaign- so he is no stranger to gutter politics either. He is owned and operated by Joe Snee and the developer lobby, and also does whatever Jeff Gahler tells him to do. The list of Penman’s conflicts of interest continue to grow. These guys are upset because they don’t have another Barry Glassman to run up spending on more BS the taxpayers can’t afford , and they’re angry that Cassilly doesn’t bend over and give the developers everything they want. Penman has never been above lies, disinformation, and dirty politics, so I will be skeptical of anything that comes from his mouth or his office until I see concrete proof that for once he is telling the truth.
Nailed it!
I saw this same post with much of the exact same wording online from Reverend Matt Gullion who thinks it wise to mix policing and religion and religion and politics now that he is no longer 5.0, but wants to whine that a popular politician has politics?? Perhaps Matt is the next Bobby inept hire? Reflects poorly on Oak Grove Baptist Church to have such a Political Divider as their pastor.
Where there’s smoke it usually means there is a fire.
The “smoke” may just be a diversion from Penman intended to distract the masses from his shady dealings with Snee, Euler, Robey, and Gahler. The general population doesn’t want a hyper-political police agency, they want fairness and blind justice- not only for the politically connected and ruling class. Gahler is losing support with his blatant political ambitions and vindictive behavior.
Section 308 and 309 are the guidelines for misconduct in the executive office.
Now that the state prosecutor has the case it’s only a matter of time to get to the facts.
To many replying here they also think Trump won the 2020 election.
George-
“To many?”
Besides you, there’s only three of us that have replied. That’s not many. I’ve also never commented on Trump here, ever. Sounds like you have a serious case of TDS (Trump Drangement Syndrome).
When people who have opinions without facts it usually means they feel guilty about something. They will protect the accused no matter the facts. And anyone who disagrees will be attacked.
How anyone cans protect someone who appoints Nazi style book burning and banning people to a committee shows they only care about their politics over country.
Oh, now I understand George. Yes, those horrible “book-banners.” You’re one of those who thinks it’s fine to have books with depicting sex acts on middle school book shelves. FYI, normal people don’t think that kind of crap is an appropriate use of tax dollars. Thanks for highlighting your extremism. Glad to know where you stand on this issue. Feel free to use your own money on porn, just don’t make the rest of us pay for it. That’s not book banning. Nice try though.
Trump did win the 2020 election. There has been no book burning, just the removal of sexual explicit books based on homosexuality from public school libraries. Most of the libraries were Elementary School libraries. If you want to buy the books they are still available, but what does that show about YOU and what YOU want YOUR CHILDREN to read? There are two Genders, male and female. Even if you have a sex change, you are still male or female. I guess you could include hermaphrodites, but that is VERY rare and should be considered a FREAK occurrence. As for banning people, the only ones whom ban anyone are the Democratic Traitors Against America and the government employees whom are part of the Democratic idiocy you worship. Quite frankly, you are putting your politics over your Country for even taking part in this stupidity. You are a moron. Furthermore, what does anything you typed have to do with this article? Once again, you are a moron.
Brick and Soul are very funny clowns. Bet neither ever read the books which are being banned. Puppeteers.
You’re right. I don’t read books that are found in Elementary School libraries teaching kids how to give each other oral sex and how little boys can become little girls and vice versa. You are a complete piece of stool…
Some people will never read what they are against. They will only look at one side and say they are right. That same person would rather those same children learn about the subject from the sex books and videos they think their children will never see.
It’s a proven fact that those who yell the loudest about a certain issue are hiding the guilt within themselves.
No one yelled at you. I don’t read books about LGBTQ+ issues, especially those found in Elementary School libraries. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t read them even if I were still in Elementary School. It has nothing to do with guilt. Please show me the public book burning ceremony and I won’t comment on it again. Moron.
If they have county issued phones, no doubt those records got pulled as well.
Thanks George for posting about banning books. Those 3 appointments show the character and values of the County Executive.
When books are banned it’s really not the books, it’s people are afraid of others learning to think for themselves and learning facts to build themselves into a better human being. with values.
Book banning has a proven record, that’s it not about the books, it’s about making puppets for those in power. The proof is in the pudding. When 57% of political party believe that a past know evader of taxes and other unwarranted sexual behavior against the female sex is okay and that that type of person would never try to steal an election, is the proof in the pudding that banning creative thinking makes puppets out of people.