An investigative committee has concluded that Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., R, may have violated the constitutional rights of some mid-level staffers when he fired them, according to The Washington Post.
The committee, headed by attorney Ward B. Coe III and created by the Maryland legislature, found that Ehrlich's administration violated rights by firing people for political views and by using employees loyal to Ehrlich to infiltrate state agencies and identify people to fire, The Post reported.
Ehrlich described the committee to The Post as "farcical," saying partisan politics motivated it. He pointed out that there were only four Republicans on the committee, compared to the eight Democratic members.
Under current Maryland law, "at will" employees can be hired or fired at any time, according to The Post. The report likely will be released sometime in the upcoming week.
