Can Currie Move Past Perception?

Yesterday, longtime Maryland lawmaker Ulysses Currie -- a resident of nearby District Heights -- was acquitted of all corruption charges in a case where he was accused of taking bribes from Shoppers Food Warehouse. He worked as a consultant from the grocery chain, but didn't disclose the information on his state ethics form.

During the trial, according to a report in The Washington Post, several top politicians -- including former governor Robert Ehrlich and Congressman Steny Hoyer -- testified to Currie's good character. 

It will be interesting to see how Currie moves forward from this. The 74-year-old lawmaker has more than 24 years in Annapolis. He was first elected as a delegate in 1987 and as a senator in 1995. From 2002 to 2010, Currie was chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, one of the top panels in the General Assembly.

Currie was also widely respected amongst his peers, often sitting at the table with other top lawmakers to finalize the budget. But as another session looms large, will Currie be able to sidestep the controversy, or will the recent past come back to haunt him?