An indictment of D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. could come soon following federal investigators’ raid of his home in Northeast Washington, a former U.S. attorney said.
“Obviously at this point, when you have a seizure of evidence like this, the next step is an indictment,” said Joseph diGenova, the U.S. attorney who prosecuted then-Mayor Marion Barry in 1990. “This is not a terribly complicated case, and I would imagine that an indictment like this could be ready to go in a couple of months without any problem.”
In order to obtain a search warrant, investigators need to show probable cause that they know there is evidence of a crime and where that evidence likely is, diGenova said. Thomas, who represents Ward 5, has been under federal investigation since at least June for allegedly diverting $300,000 in grant funding meant for city youths to himself.
Sources tell The Washington Examiner that federal agents have expanded their investigation beyond the original $300,000 Thomas was initially accused of diverting, funneling it through the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp.
Friday morning, investigators from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service began searching Thomas’ home and combing through a Chevy Tahoe. They appeared to be removing items stuffed in large black trash bags and towed away the SUV and a Victory motorcycle.
Taking the vehicles is partly a tactic designed to get the attention of Thomas and his attorney, but “it also sends a very clear message to the defendant that this is a very serious matter,” diGenova said.
Thomas did not return a request for comment. His attorney Karl A. Racine said he was confident Thomas, if he is ever charged, would be found not guilty.
| Examiner Archives |
|
|
|
|
D.C. Council members late Friday afternoon appeared stunned. Chairman Kwame Brown called a meeting in city hall to discuss the situation, but with a bare majority — just seven of the 13 members were present — they postponed the meeting to this week.
“I’m really sad,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh said after the brief convening. “I’m sad for the council; I’m sad for Harry Thomas personally. I sat next to him on the dais for four years.”
Cheh would not say whether the council intended to discuss removing Thomas from his committee memberships, but said the whole body should “collectively talk about the situation and what we all think should be done from the institutional perspective.”
Thomas serves on three committees including the one handling a comprehensive ethics reform bill.
