There’s an old saying among hard-core political operatives and organized crime bosses: “He wouldn’t stay bought.” Translation is that the recipient of a payoff reneged on the agreement to shut up about an underhanded deal. Rather than keep his silence, he squealed, or leaked or otherwise ratted out the gift-giver.

This maxim applies to Sulaimon Brown, the erstwhile mayoral candidate who has accused Mayor Vince Gray’s campaign of paying him to mercilessly and maniacally harass Adrian Fenty during last fall’s campaign. Brown alleged that Gray’s people gave him envelopes of cash during the race, and Gray himself offered him a fat government job in his administration.