Dem senator’s nephew apologizes for police-aided marriage proposal

Maryland state Del. Jon Cardin (D), the nephew of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), on Wednesday apologized for proposing to his girlfriends using on-duty Baltimore City Police officers and a city police helicopter.

The younger Cardin and girlfriend Megan Homer were on a yacht in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on August 7 when the officers boarded the boat pretending to search for contraband, according to the Baltimore Sun. The officers asked Homer to turn around to place her into custody as a helicopter hovered overhead. When she turned, Cardin was on one knee.

“During the evening, I was focused on making my fiancee’s night perfect, the Baltimore County legislator said in a statement. “In retrospect I should have considered that city resources would be involved and used better judgment to put a stop to it.”

The 39-year-old Cardin said that he would reimburse the city government for “whatever costs they deem appropriate.” The Sun reported that he had already phoned the Baltimore chief of police to apologize.

Sen. Cardin has not commented on the incident.