In what can only be described as a preemptive strike, Maryland Governor Wes Moore decided not to wait around for scrutiny—he went straight after the messenger before the message even hit the press.
Ahead of an investigative report by The Baltimore Sun, Moore and his team launched a full-blown attack on the paper’s ownership, labeling it “right-wing” and tying it to—you guessed it—Donald Trump. Because in today’s political playbook, why address the substance when you can question the source first?
The controversy stems from a reported investigation into Moore’s background, including his military record and other aspects of his past. The Sun, now owned by Sinclair executive chairman David D. Smith since 2024, has reportedly brought in additional investigative journalists from affiliated outlets to dig deeper into the governor’s history.
Moore didn’t take that lightly. In a recent interview, he lamented that the Sun has gone from being a “paper of record” to what he calls “right-wing drivel.” Strong words—especially considering the report hadn’t even been published yet. Talk about reviewing the movie before it premieres.
He also suggested that wealthy conservatives are using media platforms to curry favor with President Trump, framing the investigation as part of a broader political agenda. Convenient narrative, right?
But the response from the journalists involved was swift and direct. Candy Woodall, managing editor of the investigative collaboration “Spotlight on Maryland,” fired back, pointing out the obvious: if there’s nothing to hide, why the aggressive effort to discredit a report before it’s even released?
She also revealed that Moore’s office allegedly threatened to distribute materials to media outlets in an attempt to undermine the investigation. According to Woodall, this isn’t new behavior—she referenced similar pushback during Moore’s 2022 campaign when questions arose about his Bronze Star listing.
That issue, by the way, has already raised eyebrows in the past. Moore had listed the award on an application before actually receiving it, later calling it an “honest mistake.” He ultimately did receive the Bronze Star in 2024, but the timeline—and the explanation—left room for skepticism.
Woodall doubled down, emphasizing that her team’s loyalty lies with the public, not politicians, and noted that hundreds of questions were sent to Moore’s office with limited response. She also pushed back on claims that the outlet isn’t legitimate journalism, reminding critics that The Baltimore Sun has been around for over 200 years—long before today’s political spin machines.
Meanwhile, Moore’s spokesperson continued the counterattack, questioning the credibility of the journalists involved and highlighting their alleged political ties. Because again, if you can’t beat the story, question the storyteller.
At the end of the day, this is shaping up to be a classic case of narrative control versus investigative scrutiny. And as Americans have seen time and time again, transparency shouldn’t be feared—it should be embraced.
Because when leaders are willing to face questions head-on instead of dodging them, that’s when real trust is built. And that’s something voters are paying closer attention to than ever before.
