The D.C. Council officially returns this week from summer recess. Unfortunately, while members were away, there wasn’t any resolution of investigations begun earlier this year. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. continues his probe into possible campaign finance violations by Chairman Kwame Brown and allegations that Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. misappropriated $300,000 of government funds meant for disadvantaged youth. Mayor Vincent Gray also is being investigated.
The Office of Campaign Finance announced it plans to audit the constituent services funds of all 13 legislators. That decision follows a complaint from the D.C. Republican Committee, which claimed some members, in violation of the law, have been using the money to support political organizations — not vulnerable citizens.
How did residents come to be burdened by so many leaders engaged in questionable behavior?
The offenders apparently believe the District is filled with amnesiacs. That’s the only conclusion to be drawn from Brown’s recent attempt to cast himself as ethics king.
He has decided legislators and their staff must file internal financial disclosure statements. He said that would help reveal conflicts of interest. Then the legislature’s general counsel could provide appropriate advice to members.
Brown defended his actions by telling me about 1974 and 1993 rulings before referring to recommendations by attorney Robert Bennett, who, two years ago, investigated wrongdoing by Councilman Marion Barry. The chairman said he’s wants the council to be “open and transparent” and to maintain the “highest ethical standard.”
That’s all fancy footwork and fast talk.
Those financial reports wouldn’t be available to the public. They would be kept, Brown told me, by the legislature’s general counsel. Essentially, the disclosures could be treated as privileged communication between a lawyer and his client.
That could complicate the current reporting regimen, which mandates similar information be filed annually with the Office of Campaign Finance and be made available to the public.
What’s more, there are several ethics proposals in the council’s Committee on Government Operations that would expand the types of information filed with the OCF.
Brown knows all of that. “There are things we should do now,” he said.
Why the rush?
The chairman’s true mission is to distract and destroy. His edict came just days after the Washington City Paper’s Alan Suderman reported those two luxury SUVs leased at Brown’s request earlier this year could cost taxpayers more than $17,000.
He can’t get that Navigator scandal behind him.
Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans has said Brown should reimburse the city. Tommy Wells investigated the SUV incident earlier this year and Brown soon stripped him of his chairmanship of the transportation committee. The chairman apparently believes in payback.
Will he use those “internal” documents as future ammunition against perceived enemies, as some believe?
There’s one thing Brown could do if he’s serious about raising the legislature’s ethical standards: He could introduce a resolution to censure his good buddy Councilman Thomas.
But don’t hold your breath waiting for that.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
