“We complied with his original order. It is becoming evident that this has become abuse of his office and power, ” D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas said last week, after Attorney General Peter Nickles indicated he wanted more detailed information from the Ward 5 legislator as part of an ongoing investigation into his operation of a nonprofit known as Team Thomas. Ironically, Thomas’ remarks mirrored those made by business owners whose lives have been turned inside out. Thomas, his council colleagues and their pro bono attorney, Robert Trout, have demanded an ever-expanding body of information from Banneker Ventures and others as part of the legislature’s investigation into a multimillion-dollar government contract awarded to that company to renovate city recreation centers. Thomas has said the council simply has been trying to get to “the bottom” of things.
Nickles has been similarly motivated.
