In a high-profile trial held at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for Baltimore, faces charges of perjury related to her alleged false statements on a form in 2020. Federal prosecutors argue that Mosby lied twice on the form, claiming an "adverse financial consequence" due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to access $90,000 under the CARES Act.

The prosecutors argued that Mosby checked off a box on the form, certifying under penalty of perjury, that her business, Mahogany Elite Enterprises, had experienced closure or reduction of hours. They claimed that Mosby used this opportunity to withdraw money that she would not have been eligible for otherwise, which she then used to purchase a home in Kissimmee, Florida, as well as a condo in Longboat Key, Florida.

However, the defense attorneys maintained that Mosby started Mahogany Elite Enterprises prior to the pandemic and had legitimately spent money on registering the business, obtaining a domain name, and conducting research trips. They argued that the criteria for financial hardship were not clearly defined, and Mosby reasonably believed that she met the requirements.

In closing arguments, public defender James Wyda emphasized that, even if Mosby made a mistake on the form, it was not a crime but a simple error. He stated that the evidence showed that Mosby had acted correctly given the lack of guidance on what constituted a financial hardship.

The government, on the other hand, contended that Mosby did not suffer any financial hardship during the pandemic. They argued that Mahogany Elite Enterprises had no clients or revenue and that Mosby continued to earn her $250,000 annual salary as the State's Attorney, without being furloughed like her staff.

The trial included testimony from an FBI forensic accountant, Jenna Bender, who extensively reviewed Mosby's financial records, including bank statements, tax returns, and credit card statements. The evidence presented suggested that Mosby had inaccurately claimed a $5,000 deduction on her taxes in 2019 for losses related to Mahogany Elite Enterprises, as the expenses appeared to include personal trips and travel associated with her role as State's Attorney.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Delaney and Aaron Zelinsky, in their closing arguments, maintained that the evidence pointed to Mosby's guilt of perjury, emphasizing the importance of truth in the case.

Mosby's defense team, consisting of Wyda, Assistant Federal Public Defender Maggie Grace, and law professor Lucius Outlaw III, vigorously defended their client, asserting her innocence. They emphasized that Mosby had genuinely intended to run her business catering to professional women of color, but the pandemic severely impacted the travel industry, rendering her plans unfeasible.

Testimony from Shelonda Stokes, president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, indicated that she and Mosby had discussed starting a business targeting professional Black women during a trip to Jamaica in 2019. Stokes confirmed that Mosby eventually launched the company and participated in meetings with interested parties.

Zy Richardson, the former director of communications for the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office, also testified, stating that she advised Mosby against operating the business while in office due to potential political repercussions. Mosby reportedly agreed to publicly disassociate herself from the company.

As the trial came to a close, the jury was left to deliberate on whether Mosby knowingly and intentionally lied on the form or if her actions were a result of a genuine misunderstanding and lack of clear guidance. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for Mosby's career and impact public perception of her actions.