Anthony Brown

Anthony Brown
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Title	Attorney General of Maryland
Known for	Serving as Attorney General of Maryland; former U.S. Representative; former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

Anthony Gregory Brown is an American attorney and politician serving as the Attorney General of Maryland. A Democrat, he's held several major posts in state politics: Lieutenant Governor under Martin O'Malley from 2007 to 2015, and U.S. Representative for Maryland's 4th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. Brown's a U.S. Army veteran whose career spans military service, legislative work, and executive leadership. As Attorney General, he's pursued numerous legal actions on behalf of the state, including high-profile suits against the federal government. In February 2026, Brown filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration to block construction of a large ICE detention facility in Washington County, Maryland, sparking significant attention from both supporters and critics.

Early Life

Anthony Gregory Brown came from a family with deep roots in public service and military tradition. Public records connected to his political career provide details about his early years, though the exact date and location of his birth aren't widely publicized. His father had Jamaican heritage while his mother was Swiss. Growing up aware of both Caribbean and European backgrounds shaped his worldview and later political identity.

Brown joined the United States Army early on. Over several decades, he climbed to the rank of colonel in the Army Reserve. In 2004, he deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he worked as a senior civil affairs officer handling reconstruction and governance. The service earned him commendations and molded how he approached leadership and public service, themes he'd revisit throughout his political life.

Career

Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (2007–2015)

Brown served as Maryland's 48th Lieutenant Governor from January 2007 to January 2015 under Martin O'Malley. His assignment included significant policy areas: military and veterans affairs, workforce development, and rolling out the Affordable Care Act in Maryland. Leading the launch of Maryland's health insurance exchange became both defining and controversial during his tenure, especially after the state's exchange website crashed badly in 2013.

Brown ran for Governor in 2014 as the Democratic nominee. Most observers had him as the frontrunner for most of the race, but he lost the general election to Republican Larry Hogan in what shocked many observers. Experts blamed the loss partly on voter anger over the failed health exchange and broader national trends working against Democrats in the 2014 midterms.

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–2023)

After his gubernatorial defeat, Brown ran for the U.S. House in 2016. He won the seat for Maryland's 4th congressional district. Taking office in January 2017, he served three terms. During his time in the House, Brown sat on several committees focused on veterans affairs, military policy, and civil rights. He belonged to both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

In 2022, Brown chose not to run for reelection to the House. Instead, he ran for Attorney General of Maryland.

Attorney General of Maryland (2023–present)

Brown was elected Attorney General of Maryland in November 2022 and took office the following January. As the state's chief legal officer, he's overseen the Office of the Attorney General's work on consumer protection, public safety, environmental law, and civil rights.

Lawsuit over ICE Detention Center in Washington County

February 2026 brought a major federal lawsuit. Brown filed it against the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to block construction of a $102.4 million ICE detention center in Washington County, Maryland, near Williamsport. The suit sought to stop the federal government from converting a warehouse into a large immigration detention facility, arguing they'd skipped required environmental review and violated other legal standards.

The Maryland Daily Record reported Brown's argument that federal plans violated both state and federal law. He claimed the proposed detention center endangered the surrounding community and environment. WBAL News Radio noted the lawsuit specifically challenged the Department of Homeland Security's warehouse conversion decision, framing it as part of a broader effort by Maryland to contest federal immigration enforcement actions within the state.

Political reaction split sharply along party lines. Maryland's Republican leaders opposed Brown's legal action strongly. They contended the ICE detention center served a legitimate federal law enforcement function. According to 930 WFMD, Maryland Republicans called the lawsuit politically motivated and accused Brown of blocking federal immigration enforcement. MarylandReporter.com also covered the lawsuit in its state news roundup. They described it as Brown suing the Trump administration to block what it called a "massive ICE detention center" in Washington County.

Such suits aren't unique. State attorneys general across the country have challenged federal immigration policy in courts. For Brown, the lawsuit fit his stated priorities as Attorney General: protecting Maryland communities and enforcing environmental and procedural legal standards against federal government actions.

Personal Life

Brown served in both active duty and reserve capacities throughout his Army career. His 2004 Iraq deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom shaped his perspective on governance and law. He achieved the rank of colonel in the Army Reserve and has spoken publicly about how military service influenced his approach to leadership.

He lives in Maryland and has been deeply involved in state politics and civic life for over two decades. Brown is a member of the Democratic Party.

Recognition

Brown's career includes election and reelection to multiple statewide and federal offices. He was the first person of color to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. Later, he became the first African American elected as Attorney General of Maryland. Military commendations for his Iraq deployment also recognized his service.

As Attorney General, Brown's gained attention for taking on the federal government through lawsuits. His February 2026 case against the Trump administration over the proposed Washington County ICE detention center received coverage from multiple Maryland and national news outlets. This underscored his standing as a prominent state attorney general willing to dispute the federal executive branch.