Democratic Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott accused a local reporter of racism Friday when she questioned why his SUV cost over $163,000.
The 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was the most expensive executive vehicle used by a Maryland public official, Baltimore-area television station WBFF reported, coming in at twice the cost of the vehicle used by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. Investigative reporter Tessa Bentulan, who works for WBFF as part of a venture called Spotlight on Maryland, questioned Scott about the vehicle’s cost.
“How do you justify the cost for this vehicle?” Bentulan asked, with Scott responding, “We’ll just stop you right there. We get it. We understand that your station has this severe right wing effort underway.”
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After Bentulan raised the price of previously purchased vehicles, Scott added, “I did answer the question. Just because you didn’t get the answer you wanted and your racist slant is one thing.”
WBFF, which partners with The Baltimore Sun and Washington, D.C.-area TV station WJLA, an ABC affiliate in the Spotlight on Maryland enterprise, is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate WBFF’s license in 2021 after it ran critical reports on her.
Sinclair, which owns several ABC affiliates including WJLA, initially announced in September it would not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Spotlight on Maryland previously reported on the SUV in October 2025, with Scott claiming at the time the vehicle’s price was not out of line with other vehicles used by Maryland government officials.
“The new vehicle is going to serve the same purpose as the old vehicle: to transport me around,” Scott claimed during an Oct. 1 press conference. “I think the residents of Baltimore will understand the governor of Maryland, the comptroller of Maryland, the county executives, we all have vehicles.”
Spotlight on Maryland reported that Moore’s 2025 Chevrolet Suburban cost $82,141, slightly more than half the price of Scott’s Grand Wagoner, even after over $10,000 of security features were added in. Moore also had official business across the state, while Baltimore City is only 92 square miles.
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