October 4th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is proposing that state officials finalize a plan to compensate five men who were wrongfully imprisoned.

At Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting, Franchot suggested a final date of Oct. 16. Treasurer Nancy Kopp, who also sits on the board, agreed.

“I think we can no longer wait or ask these five innocent, wrongfully convicted Marylanders to wait any longer for a fair and compassionate payment,” Franchot said.

Gov. Larry Hogan, who chairs the board, said two weeks ago that the men — who spent a combined 120 years in prison for crimes they did not commit — should be compensated. But he faulted the legislature for not acting on the issue. He had drawn up a proposal to have administrative law judges come up with a process for compensation. At that meeting, Kopp said that the Board of Public Works had the authority to act.