The public-private partnership that former D.C. Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. used to steal more than $353,000 in public money gave preferential treatment to the nonprofit organization that played a starring role in helping the lawmaker to embezzle city funds, internal emails disclosed Monday show.

At a D.C. Council oversight hearing, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham read aloud portions of internal Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp. messages that showed officials of that organization allowed Langston 21, a group with close ties to Thomas, to receive grants with minimal paperwork even as the CYITC rejected other proposals. Langston 21 passed the city’s money to entities Thomas later implicated, organizations that he said had ultimately funneled cash to him.