Before the Baltimore Sun published an investigative piece on Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Democratic leaders and his team already criticized the newspaper’s new ownership as being “right-wing” and pro-Donald Trump.
Acquired by Sinclair’s Executive Chairman David D. Smith in 2024, the Baltimore Sun is now reportedly looking into Moore’s military, academic, and athletic histories, among others. It seems they hired an investigative reporter from a related Sinclair publication for this task.
In a recent interview, Moore expressed sorrow over the situation, saying, “this is a very sad day because the Baltimore Sun used to be our paper of record, and now it’s become a right-wing newspaper.” This followed comments from former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki about the paper’s acquisition.
Moore, who has been downplaying speculation of a presidential run in 2028, has faced criticism over listing a Bronze Star on his White House fellowship application before actually receiving the award during the Bush administration. There were also questions about his deep connections to Baltimore during his 2022 campaign against then-Governor Larry Hogan. He finally received the Bronze Star in 2024.
Moore warned that Homeland Security’s takeover of a new federal ice synthesis facility is under state investigation.
He accused the new owners of the Baltimore Sun of turning a valuable community newspaper into “right-wing drivel,” while indicating that Smith could be influential in mobilizing wealthy conservatives through media.
The governor’s remarks prompted a detailed response from the editor-in-chief of an outlet related to Smith that is investigating Moore. This outlet is a cooperation between the Sinclair-owned FOX affiliate in Baltimore and the ABC affiliate in Washington, alongside the Sun.
Editor-in-Chief Candy Woodall noted that Democrats are trying to discredit the investigative series even before it airs, hinting that such actions warrant scrutiny. She alleged that Moore’s office threatened to share files with “all media reporters” to undermine his investigation.
Woodall referenced past incidents where Moore’s team accused reporters of bias regarding the Bronze Star claims, which eventually led to Moore admitting it was an “honest mistake.” In a statement, he acknowledged that he was encouraged to include the award in his application, despite not having received it yet.
She also emphasized that her team’s loyalty lies with the people of Maryland, asserting that they have reached out with numerous questions but received few answers from Moore’s staff.
Moore’s press secretary, Ammar Moussa, raised concerns about Smith’s influence over both the FOX-45 and Baltimore Sun newsrooms. He criticized Spotlight reporter Gary Collins as “not a journalist” and highlighted his previous political affiliations.
Collins replied that he would continue to report the facts, sharing a recent article regarding Moore’s remarks about a lack of transparency from federal authorities related to a rumored ICE facility.
He pointed out that Moore’s friend, Armstrong Williams, had called for the governor to “tell the truth” and to provide full documentation regarding his military and educational background, which had been under scrutiny for months.
Moussa aimed another jab at Woodall, questioning if she was influenced by Smith in her social media response.
There’s been some tension between Sinclair and the political left, especially after Sinclair removed content from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” due to the comedian’s response to a controversial topic.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sinclair for comments regarding the situation.
