Leo Wise, the federal prosecutor in the case against former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, has been demoted. What that could mean for Mosby's case. Wise's demotion is the latest development in a case that has seen many.
It was just over a year ago when Mosby learned she'd been federally indicted, accused of perjury and false mortgage application statement charges.
A short time after the charges became public, Mosby defiantly and emotionally spoke out - from the beginning vowing she'd done nothing wrong.
"I am innocent of the charges that have been levied against me, and I intend to fight," said Mosby outside her office building on January 14, 2022.
And so, it began, the trials of the Mosby trial with one event after the other, including her demand for a speedy trial.
"What I'm asking for is to be tried right now because I know that I am innocent," said Mosby.
But those demands for a speedy day in court were delayed several times times. Once over her own defense team's failure to submit expert witness information in a timely manner.
Another turn of events was that time her defense attorney, A. Scott Bolden, unhappy about a court decision, cursed outside on the courthouse steps.
Bolden said at the time, "the government has amnesia about it now. If I could curse, I'd tell you it was all bull (expletive)."
The judge slapped back with a gag order.
"For whatever reason, Marilyn Mosby continues to be a lightning rod for unnecessary drama," said Thiru Vignarajah, a former federal and city prosecutor weighing in on Mosby's federal trial.
The latest development is Wise's demotion. He's no longer head of the fraud and public corruption unit for the Maryland US Attorney's Office.
Vignarajah on what demotion could mean for Mosby's case, specifically, her defense--could it help her...since she's claimed Wise's prosecution has been driven by his malicious personal and political animus.
"It doesn't reflect well on the US Attorney's Office that this is coming out. It shows that you can't keep your office under control. But I don't think at the end of the day that's going to really help Miss Mosby when it comes to dealing with the jury of her peers and what appears to be overwhelming evidence against her," said Vignarajah.
Wise was demoted but still working on the Mosby case, with more to come.
"Leo wise has a sterling reputation and a long record of public service going after and successfully prosecuting some of the most serious corruption and public corruption cases in Baltimore and Maryland in history," said Vignarajah.
Ultimately Mosby's entire defense team quit. She's now represented by a public defender. Two other major changes in the case.