Tempers on the D.C. Council are hot over Councilman Marion Barry and his contract award to a girlfriend, as two of Barry’s colleagues walked out of a news conference that was called to formally announce an independent investigation into the former mayor.

At-large Councilman David Catania and Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh marched out of Chairman Vincent Gray’s news conference Friday afternoon after Gray allowed Barry to declare his innocence to the gathered media throng. Catania was overheard saying, “I can’t take this,” before standing up and leaving.