The Maryland Attorney General’s Office ruled that former Delegate Tiffany Alston cannot regain her seat, News4 Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins reported.
Alston, D-Prince George’s County, was removed from office in October when she was sentenced for misconduct, waiving her rights to appeal in a plea agreement.
Since winning the 24th District seat last year, Alston lost her license to practice law after a dispute with a client. She also was accused of using campaign money to help pay for her wedding.
In June, she was found guilty of paying an employee in her private law firm with $800 in General Assembly funds. That cost her the House seat.
Alston's attorneys maintained that because her conviction was modified to probation before judgment, she should be able to resume the duties of her office, the Associated Press reported. Gov. Martin O’Malley asked Attorney General Doug Gansler if Alston could retain her seat since she received community service instead of jail time.
Gansler ruled Alston was legally removed from the House. He wrote that the judge's decision to revise the sentence does not amount to a determination that the conviction was wrongly imposed, the AP reported.
O’Malley also asked that the Democratic Central Committee withdraw Gregory Hall as a replacement for Alston. The Democratic Central Committee is in court battling an injunction Hall filed to prevent the committee from meeting about withdrawing Hall’s nomination.
