What’s with the shades? It’s OK for Allen Iverson to wrap shades around his eyes to address the press after a basketball game.
And it’s in keeping with the moment when Snoop Dog sports shades 24-7, especially when he’s on camera.
It even makes sense when Council Member Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr. dons cool shades when he addresses reporters in the sun to answer allegations that he’s misused public funds.
But why did Sulaimon Brown have to keep the shades on while he testified before the D.C. Council Monday about how he got paid off by Vince Gray’s mayoral campaign to harass Adrian Fenty at forums? And that Gray, during last year’s campaign — personally promised him a job once he became mayor?
Because if not for the shades, Brown would have been much more credible. And still — despite the shades — it was hard not to take away from the long hearing the conclusion that Brown has the goods on Gray, confidante Lorraine Green and campaign official Howard Brooks.
No wonder everyone has lawyered up!
Amid a five-hour meeting, the crystal moment came when Council Member Marion Barry quieted the crowd and asked, “Mr. Brown, you have made serious allegations about Mr. Gray, Lorraine Green and other people.”
Barry then attested to Gray’s public service for many decades, and that he’s known Lorraine Green for decades. Barry’s inference was that they were on the same team.
“Why should this council — even with your documentation — believe you?” Barry asked.
I have to ask: Is Marion Barry in any position to question Brown’s credibility? Barry, who has failed to pay taxes, lied about his own payments of public funds to his girlfriends and spent six months in the slammer on a cocaine rap?
But let’s follow Barry’s lead, because it does go to the crux of the matter: Can we believe Sulaimon Brown?
Barry questioned Brown’s motive in calling Gray “a crook” and divulging cash payments from Green. Didn’t Brown squeal only after he was fired? Wasn’t his motive revenge?
Absolutely! Revenge is a fine motive.
Here’s what this comes down to, shades or no shades. Brown said he delivered to the FBI the envelope in which Lorraine Green gave him $750. He also said he reported on his tax returns the funds he received from Gray’s operatives and used for personal reasons. His promise of a job for $110,000, his performance on that job for the Health Care Finance Agency, and his dismissal from that job are all described in emails, he testified.
Monday’s hearing was raw political theater. Brown lost his cool, Barry told him to shut up, a woman had to be escorted from the hearing room.
But if the trail of money and documents leads to Gray and his crowd, they are toast, shades or no shades.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
