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 member of the Democratic Party, Brown has held several prominent positions in Maryland politics, including serving as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland under Governor Martin O'Malley from 2007 to 2015 and as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Maryland's 4th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. A veteran of the United States Army, Brown's career has spanned military service, legislative work, and executive branch leadership. As Attorney General, he has taken on a range of legal actions on behalf of the state, including high-profile lawsuits against the federal government. In February 2026, Brown filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration to block the construction of a large ICE detention facility in Washington County, Maryland, drawing significant attention from both supporters and critics across the political spectrum.

Early Life

Anthony Gregory Brown was born and raised in a family with roots in public service and military tradition. Details about his earliest years, including the precise date and location of his birth, are drawn from publicly available records associated with his political career. Brown is of mixed-race heritage; his father was of Jamaican descent and his mother was of Swiss descent. He grew up with an awareness of both his Caribbean and European backgrounds, which informed his worldview and later political identity.

Brown pursued a career in the United States Army, where he served for several decades. He achieved the rank of colonel in the United States Army Reserve and was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. During his deployment, Brown served as a senior civil affairs officer and was involved in reconstruction and governance efforts. His military service earned him several commendations and shaped his approach to leadership and public service, themes he would return to throughout his political career.

Career

Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (2007–2015)

Anthony Brown served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from January 2007 to January 2015, under Governor Martin O'Malley. During his tenure, Brown was assigned significant policy portfolios, including oversight of military and veterans affairs, workforce development, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Maryland. His role in leading the rollout of Maryland's health insurance exchange became a defining—and controversial—aspect of his time in office, as the state's exchange website experienced severe technical failures upon its launch in 2013.

In 2014, Brown ran for Governor of Maryland as the Democratic nominee. Despite being considered the frontrunner for much of the campaign, he lost the general election to Republican Larry Hogan in a result that was widely seen as an upset. The defeat was attributed in part to voter dissatisfaction with the troubled health exchange rollout and broader national political trends unfavorable to Democrats in the 2014 midterm cycle.

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

Following his loss in the gubernatorial race, Brown successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, winning election to represent Maryland's 4th congressional district. He took office in January 2017 and served three terms in Congress. During his time in the House, Brown sat on several committees and was involved in legislation related to veterans affairs, military policy, and civil rights. He was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Brown chose not to seek reelection to the House in 2022, instead running for Attorney General of Maryland.

Attorney General of Maryland (2023–present)

Anthony Brown was elected Attorney General of Maryland in November 2022 and took office in January 2023. As the state's chief legal officer, Brown has overseen the Office of the Attorney General's work across a range of issues including consumer protection, public safety, environmental law, and civil rights.

Lawsuit over ICE Detention Center in Washington County

In February 2026, Brown filed a significant federal lawsuit against the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to block the construction of a $102.4 million ICE detention center in Washington County, Maryland, near the town of Williamsport. The lawsuit sought to halt the conversion of a warehouse in Washington County into a large-scale immigration detention facility, arguing that the federal government had failed to comply with required environmental review processes and other legal requirements.

According to the Maryland Daily Record, Brown argued that the federal government's plans to build the facility violated state and federal law, and that the proposed detention center posed risks to the surrounding community and environment. WBAL News Radio reported that the lawsuit specifically targeted the Department of Homeland Security's decision to convert the Washington County warehouse, describing it as part of a broader effort by the state to challenge federal immigration enforcement actions within Maryland.

The lawsuit generated considerable political debate. Maryland's Republican leaders pushed back strongly against Brown's legal action, arguing that the proposed ICE detention center served a legitimate federal law enforcement purpose. According to a report from 930 WFMD, Maryland Republicans characterized the lawsuit as politically motivated and accused Brown of obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. The MarylandReporter.com also covered the lawsuit as part of its state news roundup, noting that Brown had sued the Trump administration to block what it described as a "massive ICE detention center" in Washington County.

The case represented one of several instances in which state attorneys general across the country have challenged federal immigration policy through the courts. For Brown, the lawsuit was consistent with his stated priorities as Attorney General, including the protection of Maryland communities and the enforcement of environmental and procedural legal standards against federal government actions.

Personal Life

Anthony Brown is a veteran of the United States Army, having served in both active duty and reserve capacities over several decades. He was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and achieved the rank of colonel in the Army Reserve. Brown has spoken publicly about the impact of his military service on his approach to governance and law.

Brown resides in Maryland and has been active in the state's political and civic life for more than two decades. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Recognition

Anthony Brown's career has been recognized through his election and reelection to multiple statewide and federal offices. He was the first person of color to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and later became the first African American elected as Attorney General of Maryland. His military service has also been recognized with commendations related to his deployment in Iraq.

As Attorney General, Brown has gained attention for his willingness to pursue legal action against the federal government on issues including immigration enforcement and environmental protection. His February 2026 lawsuit against the Trump administration over the proposed ICE detention center in Washington County was covered by multiple Maryland and national news outlets, underscoring his profile as a prominent state attorney general involved in disputes with the federal executive branch.