Maryland GOP calls for Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski to resign, drop out of congressional race

BALTIMORE — The head of the Maryland Republican Party publicly called Thursday for Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. to resign from office and withdraw from the race for the 2nd Congressional District, citing reporting from The Baltimore Sun.

The state GOP said in a news release that Olszewski, the Democratic nominee to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, should drop out, following Sun reporting that his administration had secretly paid a former firefighter $83,675 when the firefighter, Philip Tirabassi, asked to transfer retirement credits from his city service time to his county pension. Olszewski told The Sun the county agreed to pay Tirabassi after he threatened to sue for breach of contract despite county officials warning that the payment could violate state and local law.

Maryland Republican Party chairwoman Nicole Beus Harris called Olszewski “corrupt” in the news release, and said he had “no business” serving as either county executive or in Congress.

“Washington, D.C. has enough corruption, the last thing we need is another Democrat congressman handing out government funds to his friends and supporters,” Harris said. She is the wife of U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican who frequently opposes the other members, all Democrats, of the Maryland congressional delegation.

Olszewski is believed to be the frontrunner in the race for the district that covers parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Carroll County. Olszewski has vastly outraised Republican nominee Kim Klacik and boasts endorsements from Ruppersberger, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer and Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones.

“The Maryland Republican Party continues to desperately grasp at straws to find any reason to distract voters from candidates like Kim Klacik, who back the extreme policies of Donald Trump — a convicted felon. County Executive Olszewski’s administration has been the most open and transparent in Baltimore County’s history,” said Asa Leventhal, Olszewski’s campaign manager. “Johnny O will continue discussing the issues that matter most to Marylanders — defending reproductive freedom, lowering costs for middle class families, and protecting Medicare and Social Security for our senior citizens.”

Tirabassi is the older brother of John Tirabassi, Olszewski’s friend and high school classmate. Olszewski previously said he and Philip Tirabassi did not have a “close, personal relationship.” Both John and Philip Tirabassi handled three of Olszewski’s personal real estate transactions between 2016 and 2020. The Baltimore Brew first reported the Tirabassis’ involvement in Olszewski’s real estate transactions.

John Tirabassi also sold $4 million worth of dump trucks to the county through his employer, Peterbilt of Baltimore. Olszewski said he did not know about the truck purchases.

Klacik did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“We believe that sunlight is the best disinfectant, and we welcome any and all investigations appropriate, whether criminal or otherwise,” said Adam Wood, the Maryland GOP executive director.