Johnson Watch: Friday Edition

Still no word from Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, whom we presume is still traveling on an trade mission in an unnamed African country that might be the Republic of Cameroon.

Johnson (D) has been gone since Dec. 1 with at least three other county employees. His spokesman, James P. Keary, has said he had almost no information to release about the trip, including which countries the executive was visiting other than Cameroon and who, exactly, had accompanied Johnson. He would not confirm whether county taxpayers were footing the bill, as they have in the past for trade missions.

In a story that ran on Saturday, Keary said that he did not know even know which day Johnson was scheduled to return from the trip but that it would be at the end of this week. When he arrived back in town, Keary said, Johnson would call to answer all questions. We haven't heard from Johnson yet today.

Asked about the trip again today, Keary said "Boy, I'll tell you what, we certainly have that bad connection again."