The FBI just opened up on a former blue state Governor’s staffer
Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Republicans on Capitol Hill have launched investigations into weaponization of the federal government against conservatives.
But no one expected what happened to a former blue state Republican official’s top lieutenant.
Because now the FBI has just opened up on a former blue state Governor’s staffer.
When angry citizens call government employees “criminals” it is supposed to be all rhetorical hyperbole.
This blue state Governor’s staffer turned FBI fugitive took it literally.
And he just died in a dramatic police standoff.
In what sounds like an implausible movie plot, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s former staffer went off the deep end after getting caught red-handed defrauding taxpayers.
Roy McGrath looked like your average political operator.
But he was hiding a massive secret—and when it came out everything unraveled quickly.
McGrath allegedly recorded conversations with RINO ex-Governor
According to the Baltimore Banner McGrath’s “spiral from executive to fugitive was as puzzling as it was spectacular.”
“Roy McGrath was a capable leader, helping businesses make deals at a trade organization. Later, he became an adept government administrator executing contracts and making Maryland’s bureaucracy hum,” the local news outlet reported.
“But McGrath’s career arc took an unexpected turn as he rose through the state government ranks and became then-Gov. Larry Hogan’s chief of staff in 2020,” the report continued. “McGrath was eventually accused of improper government spending, lack of accountability, secretly recorded meetings, falsified time cards and one fabricated memo.”
The 53-year-old former state employee was indicted on charges that he committed fraud by getting the Maryland Environmental Service to fork over a $233,000 severance payment he didn’t have coming.
McGrath was Hogan’s chief of staff for 11 weeks before he resigned in the face of reports starting to circulate regarding the fraud accusations.
While he pleaded not guilty, his actions seemed to indicate otherwise.
He failed to show up at the beginning of his criminal trial which dealt with multiple charges of wire fraud, embezzlement, and document falsification.
A manhunt ensued with both the FBI and US Marshals involved.
A $20,000 reward was put up for information that could lead to his arrest.
Authorities haven’t revealed whether McGrath killed himself during a standoff or if he was taken out by a member of law enforcement.
Governor Hogan has been described by some as “the most popular crook in America.”
Back in 2021 the Baltimore Sun published McGrath’s claims that Hogan approved the six-figure payoff.
“Criminal and legislative investigations followed, and last month he was charged on criminal counts that include misappropriation, misconduct in office, wire fraud and wiretapping for allegedly secretly recording conversations with the Governor and other top officials,” the Sun reported in November 2021.
“Prosecutors allege that McGrath misled officials at his prior state agency, the Maryland Environmental Service, to get them to approve the severance deal by implying that the Governor supported it,” the outlet added.
There’s been little revealed regarding exactly what McGrath captured during his alleged wiretapping escapades.
It’s obvious McGrath couldn’t have acted entirely on his own.
But it’s equally likely numerous players behind the scenes are hoping the investigation into exactly what happened will die along with McGrath.
Poster Comment:
Give me three steps and you'll never see me no more.