Gov. Larry Hogan (R., Md.) took to Facebook to respond to a local blogger’s accusations that Hogan’s baldness and chemotherapy treatment are to blame for his policy, specifically ordering the closure of the Baltimore City Detention Center earlier this month.
"A ‘columnist’ called me nasty and mean for not giving Democratic legislators prior notice of our plan to close the Baltimore City Detention Center," Hogan wrote on Facebook. "He even blamed it on my cancer."
The columnist, Barry Rascovar, published the opinion piece in the online Maryland Reporter on August 2, openly wondering what happened to the "friendly, smiling, easy-going Larry Hogan."
"Perhaps he’s spent too much time with his pal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the combative presidential hopeful with the mouth that roars," Rascovar said.
"Perhaps his hairless Kojack look, as well as his tough chemotherapy sessions, help explain what’s going on."
Rascovar included a list of grievances from Hogan’s actions that are "alienating democrats," among those included the decision to order the immediate closure of the Baltimore City Detention Center, which houses more than 700 detainees, allegedly without notifying local officials of the plans to do so.
"[F]or safety reasons we could not leak this plan in advance [due] to the gang leaders and criminals running the jail. But, we did give notice early that day to legislative leaders in advance," Hogan said in his response.
"In spite of 10 days of 24 hour chemo I haven't become mean and nasty, I'm still the same nice guy I have always been, and we are still accomplishing great things for Maryland," Hogan said.
In response to the Washington Free Beacon’s request for comment, Rascovar replied that "[t]he governor put his own spin on what's been happening in his Facebook post, which all politicians do. But the facts—and his own words at the jail-closing announcement in Baltimore—tell a different story."