D.C. Inspector General Charles Willoughby testified Monday that Vince Gray’s former chief of staff Gerri Mason Hall asked Willoughby to meet with Sulaimon Brown as a “courtesy to her.”
The call happened on Jan. 14, Willoughby testified during a council hearing on high salaries and the appointment of politial allies within the Vince Gray administration. Brown has alleged that members of the Gray for Mayor campaign passed him cash-stuffed envelops last summer so Brown could stay in the mayoral race and verbally attack then-Mayor Adrian Fenty on the campaign trail.
During the call, Willoughby said, Hall asked him about an auditing position Brown wanted in the inspector general’s office. Willoughby says he told Hall there was no such job available. Hall, however, personally scheduled a meeting with Willoughby on Brown’s behalf for the next business day, Jan. 18.
Willoughby said Brown arrived, apparently still believing the position was available. Willoughby informed Brown that it was not. They talked for about 20 minutes and Brown went on his way.
Ten days later, Brown was hired by the Department of Health Care finance and given a $110,000 annual salary.
