Sheila Dixon's mink coat, from developer Ronald Lipscomb. (Photo by Doug Donovan)
by DOUG DONOVAN
Political sex scandals always produce items that collectors would surely love to obtain. For President Clinton, it was Monica Lewinsky’s blue dress (after the Smithsonian turned it down.) For Sen. Larry Craig, it was the bathroom stall door. For former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer, it was the receipt for Room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel, booked under the name “George Fox.”
To that distinguished list, add the two fur coats that helped take Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon down, albeit in high style.
Not only was Dixon Baltimore’s first female mayor, she was also the first female politician to be unseated by a sex scandal. (Arguably it was her relationship to developer Ronald H. Lipscomb that led to her indictment, conviction and resignation in February.)
Now, she can add another first to her resume: her prosecutor is auctioning off the two fur coats that Lipscomb bought for her.
Maryland State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh said it was the first time his office had taken the step of selling seized items to raise money for a charity. For police departments, though, it’s a fairly standard procedure to auction off cars, boats, homes and other possessions surrendered during criminal investigations.
How Dixon's "pre-owned" mink looks on eBay.
Rohrbaugh is selling Dixon’s fur coats on Ebay, along with other ill-gotten goods seized during the course of his nearly four-year investigation of Dixon. The other items include an Xbox 360, a video camera, and a camera bag. They were put on display at the prosecutor’s Towson office today, marked by red “evidence” tape.
To add to the damning display, the prosecutors included a photograph of Dixon wearing the burnt umber mink at an official city event. What was most striking about the mink was the tag, which read “Feraud.” But from a distance it caused several visitors to ask, “Does that say ‘fraud?’”
Here’s how the items are listed on Ebay:
Fur Coat surrendered by Sheila Dixon.
“Persian Lamb coat from the Sheila Dixon Trial.” Starting price: $500.
“This beige fur coat was surrendered to the Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office as evidence in the trial of former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. The State Prosecutors Office is selling this item pursuant to the plea agreement. This item was taken in June 2008. This coat is described as a ‘Nepal/Persian Lamb dyed Sandstone with fabric.’ The item is marked as a medium, I have been told that its size is on the small side of medium. The coat is in good condition.”
The Persian lamb coat Dixon got from developer Ronald Lipscomb. (Photo by Doug Donovan)
Mink Coats surrendered by Sheila Dixon
Mink Coat from the Sheila Dixon trial. Starting price: $1,000.
“This fur coat was surrendered to the Maryland State Prosecutors Office as evidence in the trial of former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. The State Prosecutors Office is selling this item pursuant to the plea agreement. This item was taken in June 2008.”
“This coat is described as a ‘burnt umber Mink.’ The item is marked as a medium. The coat is in good condition.”
Samsung Camera Taken from Sheila Dixon. Starting price: $50.
Camcorder that was evidence at the Sheila Dixon trial.
“This Samsung Video Camera was submitted as evidence at the trial of former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. This item has been surrendered to the Maryland State Prosecutors Office pursuant to the plea agreement. This item was originally seized from the residence of the former mayor in June 2008.”
“This camera is USED, and seems to be in great condition. It includes one battery, the charging cable, a camera bag, and various connection cords.”
Xbox 360. Starting price: $99
“This Xbox was submitted as evidence at the trial of former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. This item has been surrendered to the Maryland State Prosecutors Office pursuant to the plea agreement. All proceeds from this sale will go to Youthworks of Baltimore. This item was originally taken from the residence of the former mayor in June 2008.
“This xbox is USED, and seems to be in great condition. It includes one controller and the Need for Speed Carbon disc. This item is sold as is with no warranty. Buyer is to pay all shipping.”
Sheila Dixon's Xbox (Photo Doug Donovan)
What’s hot, what’s not
Last we checked, the Xbox was generating a hot bidding war, with 39 bidder pushing the price up to $820. There were 18 bids on the camcorder (it rocketed from $50 to $203.40 within hours) and a couple of small bids on the Persian lamb coat.
As for the $1,000 mink?
So far, no takers.
——
Bonus reading for faithful readers:
Down in D.C., politicians get a different class of gifts from those seeking to do business with government.
Consider the swell bit of swag given to DC Mayor Mayor Adrian Fenty by the Italians recently during a big big amore-fest, as he is poised to bring the Italian bicycle race (the Giro d’Italia) to DC in 2012— a $12,000 Colnago racing bicycle.
