Jeanne Clarke Harris told federal investigators that she had help creating the unreported campaign that helped elect D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and that the effort had started two months before the mayoral primary — when she was told his campaign needed “financial assistance.”

Harris said her company, Belle International, received at least $653,800 to pay for the shadow campaign’s expenses from a single, unnamed co-conspirator. The deposits began on July 28, 2010, and ran through Sept. 14 — primary day.