A federal judge on Tuesday ordered that records regarding D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr.’s student loan debt be unsealed. The Ward 5 councilman will pay back $17,277 in principal, interest, penalties and fees in monthly installments of $494.96, according the Associated Press.
Thomas’ debt is from loans taken out nearly 30 years ago for college. The government sued him in 2006 to recover what was then about $10,000 in principal and interest. Thomas and the feds reached a settlement last month on the loans, which originally totaled $5,000.
Attorneys for Thomas had tried to keep the order sealed, saying it would hurt his reputation as he is battling other financial problems in the courts. Thomas is the subject of an IRS and FBI probe into his personal finances and that of his nonprofit, Team Thomas. He is accused of diverting about $300,000 in city funds to his nonprofit for personal use.
