GREENBELT, Maryland – The mortgage fraud trial of Marilyn Mosby, the former state’s attorney of Baltimore, was adjourned early by federal judge Lydia Kay Griggsby on Wednesday. The defense had just begun presenting evidence when the judge ordered the jurors to return the next day for the trial to resume. The reason for the abrupt adjournment was not provided, but it followed a private discussion between the judge and the attorneys during the lunch break. Mosby’s defense team had made an unusual argument, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the alleged crimes occurred in Maryland.
Mosby is facing two counts of mortgage fraud, with accusations that she made false statements on loan applications for two properties in Florida. Prosecutors claim that she lied seven times between the two applications, and they only need to convince the jury of one false statement per mortgage to secure a conviction. The defense argues that the charges should be thrown out because the crimes were not proven to have occurred in Maryland, citing a provision in the U.S. Constitution that grants defendants the right to be tried in the state where the alleged crimes took place.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky called Mosby’s motion “meritless and groundless,” but requested time to respond in writing. Griggsby gave the prosecution until the end of the day Friday to submit their response and the defense until the same time Monday to reply. In the meantime, the judge ordered the trial to continue.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have presented six witnesses, including an officer from the Internal Revenue Service and three mortgage underwriters. These witnesses have supported the prosecution’s claims of false statements and provided context to the financial and real estate records presented as evidence. The underwriters testified that they relied on Mosby’s truthfulness in deciding to issue her loans for the properties.
At the heart of the alleged lies is an approximately $69,000 federal tax debt that Mosby and her ex-husband accrued but did not disclose in their mortgage applications. Mosby’s defense attorneys suggest that Nick Mosby, the former couple’s Baltimore City Council President, should bear responsibility for the taxes and that he may not have communicated with Marilyn about the debt. Nick Mosby is expected to testify as a witness in his ex-wife’s defense.
The trial, which is being held at Mosby’s request in Greenbelt, will continue once the judge receives the responses from both the prosecution and the defense. Despite the adjournment, both sides are prepared to proceed with presenting their cases. The defense wants guidance on the outstanding legal issues to proceed smoothly.
Mosby and her attorneys have chosen not to comment on the day’s events, maintaining their silence outside of the courtroom.