Posted on 01/05/2012 12:03:57 PM PST by jazusamo
Mayor calls on Thomas to resign
Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged council member Harry Thomas Jr. with stealing more than $350,000 from the District and failing to report income on his tax returns, bringing closure to a drawn-out saga that reached unprecedented heights in the halls of D.C. government.
Documents filed in U.S. District Court accuse Mr. Thomas, Ward 5 Democrat, is of intentionally redirecting $353,000 from youth baseball programs to his personal use from April 2007 to at least February 2009 and failing to report additional income on three successive tax returns.
The pair of counts were outlined in a criminal information, which typically indicates a plea deal is imminent.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray called on Mr. Thomas to resign and focus on defending himself in court.
“While everyone is assumed innocent till proven otherwise, those who violate the public’s trust must be held accountable for their actions,” he said.
The apparent deal with the U.S. Attorney for the District brings some closure to an investigation that hung over City Hall for about two years, starting with accusations about his nonprofit organization, Team Thomas, that were lobbed at him from a Republican opponent before his reelection in 2010.
Mr. Thomas agreed in the summer to pay $300,000 to the District after D.C. Attorney General Irv Nathan filed suit against him in June, claiming he used his position to take the funds earmarked for youth sports to purchase a luxury vehicle and pay for trips or other personal expenses.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Can a councilmember still serve from prison?
It’s more unusual when a D.C. political leader makes it throughout his career WITHOUT being charged!
I honestly don’t know but it wouldn’t surprise me being that it’s D.C.
Great point and absolutely true!
Washington D.C. government equals Zimbabwe government.
“Washington D.C. government equals Zimbabwe government.”
Now let’s be PC and call it what it is, a BRA (Black-Run Administration).
My guess is that if there was a real in depth investigation of the DC government, they’d have to move the City Council Chambers to the nearest Federal Prison where maybe they would have to share the room with the city council from Detroit. another BRA.
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