While Pr. George's County government was under a hiring freeze, the son of the disgraced County Executive was given a new job, says a news report.
The Washington Post reported that Johnson's son, Bruce, was given a position with the Prince George's County health department last fall. The report said that from county documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the younger Johnson was hired at an annual salary of $71,483. His position was listed as budget analyst.
The Post said that this salary is $20,000 higher than the base level for this position. A county document that would have justified the higher pay rate was not provided with the rest of the FOIA release.
The hire came at a time when other key management positions were left vacant because of a hiring freeze. A budget committee would have to submit a waiver allowing for the hire during the freeze, but the Washington Post said they did not receive any documentation on such a waiver, either.
According to Donald Bridgeman, the former head of county human resources, Bruce Johnson had met the criteria for the budget analyst position, and was not given any special treatment.
Before his post with the health department, Bruce Johnson had been hired as a temporary budget analyst with the Department of Environmental Resources.
Jack Johnson Jr. was indicted in February on charges of bribery. Leslie Johnson, his wife, is under federal investigation for tampering with evidence, after she was caught with a stash of cash in her underwear.
