In a speech to conservative activists in Washington yesterday, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan repeatedly twisted a dagger into Democratic Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as he related his version of how rioting was quelled a year ago in Baltimore.

Hogan attributed the end of the disturbances last April to his decisive deployment of National Guard troops and other military resources.

State law enforcement had a “chilling effect on the rioters, and they all went scurrying home and didn’t want to cause any more violence,” Hogan told the American Action Forum.

But instead of getting credit, Hogan said, he’s been repaid with silence and scorn by Rawlings-Blake.

“We came in, saved the city and never got a thank you. All she did is criticize us from that day to this day. And said we’ve done nothing to help Baltimore City.”

He added, with a note of triumph, that her attitude doesn’t matter anymore because “we’re going to have a new mayor. Her career is now over. She’s still a lame duck. She has a few more months to serve out her term. But her career in Baltimore is done.”

“We’re Taking Over”

The governor never mentioned Rawlings-Blake by name – only as “the mayor” and “she” – as he contrasted his take-charge style with the her dallying and indecision in the face of escalating violence.

Hogan said his administration had been ready to send troops on Saturday, April 25, after fights broke out between Baltimore Orioles fans and marchers protesting the death of Freddie Gray. But Rawlings-Blake told him the city police had matters under control.
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Hogan’s full talk. His remarks on the riot start at 32:15 and end at 39:30.
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On the afternoon of Monday, April 27, Hogan said he was driving to an event in Washington when an aide showed him an iPad photo of a police car on fire in Baltimore. Hogan said he ordered his car to turn around and, with sirens blaring, raced back to Annapolis to meet with his law enforcement team.

“I called the Mayor of Baltimore and said, ‘We are ready to act and assist in any way possible,’ and she said, ‘We don’t need your help. Everything is under control.’ And I said, ‘It doesn’t look like it’s under control. It looks like the city’s on fire.’ ”

About three hours later – “we couldn’t find her for awhile” – Hogan said he informed Rawlings-Blake that he held two executive orders in his hand.

“One says, ‘At the request of the Mayor of Baltimore, I’m declaring a state of emergency and sending in the National Guard.’ The other one says, ‘As Governor of Maryland, I am declaring an emergency and sending in the National Guard.’

“I think it’s better for you and better for me if we go with the first one. But either way, we’re bringing in [the troops]. We’re taking over.”

He said the mayor asked for time to think over her options.

“This is after the city’s been burning for three hours, 400 businesses destroyed and 170 people injured,” Hogan dramatically told the AAF audience. “I said, ‘There is no more time. We’ve got to act.’ ”

Only then did the mayor acquiesce, the governor said.

Different Version a Year Ago

Yesterday’s speech contrasted with his remarks in a CNN interview with Don Lemon after he ordered troops into Baltimore on the night of April 27, 2015.

Standing in front of City Hall with Rawlings-Blake, Hogan was full of praise for the mayor. “She’s done a terrific job,” Hogan said when Lemon questioned why the mayor had not requested troops after the Orioles disturbance.

When the reporter persisted, Hogan cut him off, saying, “Let me just say in defense of the mayor, now is not the time to question what happened in the past, but to fix what’s happening now.”

In the same interview, Rawlings-Blake complimented Hogan and said she wanted “to thank the governor for his support.”

In yesterday’s speech, the Republican governor implied that Democrat politicians in both Baltimore and Washington were trying to look good by not cracking down on the protesters.

“There was a lot of stuff going on at the political level. They were talking to the White House, the DNC [Democratic National Committee]. They were getting political advice on how to handle the situation. I couldn’t care less about any of that. I just wanted to act and get things done and save the city. I didn’t care politically how it looked.”

A year ago, Hogan told CNN’s Lemon that President Barack Obama had called him and “supported” his actions.

Yesterday, Hogan said Obama cautioned him to “exercise restraint” against the protesters.”That was the only contact we had with them,” he added, referring to the White House.