Top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby turns to her faith after federal indictment, says fight is 'already fixed in my favor'
Congregants at the Empowerment Temple encircle Nick and Marilyn Mosby as Rev. Robert Turner leads the congregation in prayer in support of the State’s Attorney, who is under federal indictment. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
(EEW MAGAZINE NEWS) It’s a familiar pattern. When politicians find themselves in hot water, they usually lean into their faith and turn to the church for prayers and support.
This is what Baltimore’s top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby did Sunday morning at Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple AME church just days after being indicted on charges of perjury and making false mortgage applications in the purchase of two Florida vacation homes, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland said.
Rev. Robert Turner called Mosby and her husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, to the front of the church during his sermon, where congregants surrounded the couple and joined hands in prayer, reports The Baltimore Sun.
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“We rebuke the enemy and his attack on their life. The devil is a liar,” Turner said. “We surround her physically now, but spiritually forevermore, as we intercede on her behalf.”
When Mosby took the microphone, she defiantly maintained that she is innocent.
The four-count indictment alleges that the Baltimore State’s Attorney lied about meeting qualifications for coronavirus-related distributions from a city retirement plan in 2020. Federal prosecutors also allege that Mosby lied on 2020 application forms for mortgages to purchase a home in Kissimmee, Florida, and a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida.
Mosby, 41, is a high-profile prosecutor who has aligned herself with criminal-justice reformers. She rose to national prominence in 2015 when she pursued criminal charges against six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray, a Black man whose death in police custody triggered riots and protests. None of the officers were convicted.
“We can certainly use your prayers,” Mosby said while reading from her cellphone. “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.”
Prosecutors said Mosby claimed she had faced financial hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic, when she had in fact received a bump in pay during that time period. While applying for loans, prosecutors also contend that Mosby was untruthful, saying she was not indebted to the federal government, when she owed thousands in unpaid taxes.
Pastor Turner, who made no secret of the fact that he backs the politician, said, “One sad fact about today is social media can allow people to be charged — accused — before you ever set foot in a courtroom.” He made this statement while preaching about Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery, titling the sermon, “He dropped the charges.”
“I know I’m new here to Baltimore, but it don’t take me long to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong. And in my humble opinion, what’s being done to this sister is dead wrong,” Turner added, making his position clear.
The indictment of Mosby comes months after news outlets reported that federal officials subpoenaed the Maryland State Board of Elections seeking business and campaign finance records related to the couple dating back to 2014. An attorney representing the couple alleged misconduct by federal prosecutors in a letter to the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility and sought a suspension of the criminal investigation into the couple. Nick Mosby has not been charged with any crimes.
The Sun said Mosby addressed the congregation for about five minutes Sunday. “Despite the death threats, the hate mail, the constant media attacks, the lawsuits, the scrutiny of every dollar in my bank account — I’m still here, I’m still standing, and I’m still blessed,” Mosby said, drawing cheers and applause from parishioners.
Mosby’s term as prosecutor will end this year, and she will be up for reelection. If convicted, Mosby could face up to five years for each of two perjury counts and decades in prison on charges of making false mortgage applications in addition to other charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
