The mayor of District Heights, Maryland, is facing a misdemeanor charge over a fireworks purchase that he said was for the city when it was actually on behalf of a friend, Maryland's state prosecutor announced Friday.
Mayor Eddie Martin is charged with misconduct in office.
He's accused of signing a letter on city letterhead on June 8, 2017, authorizing the purchase of about $50,000 worth of Class B and C fireworks and saying that they would be used on behalf of the city.
"Class B and Class C fireworks are available for purchase by a municipality or with a federal explosive license," a release from the prosecutor said.
However, the prosecutor says the fireworks were actually being bought by a friend of Martin's.
"Public officials cannot use their position to evade safety regulations for the personal benefit of their friends," said state prosecutor Emmet C. Davis in a release. "Our elected officials must be held responsible for improperly representing personal interest as the interest of the people that they are supposed to represent."
News4 is awaiting comment from Martin.
