The federal grand jury probe into D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s 2010 campaign is intensifying as investigators have obtained fingerprints from the individuals involved in the campaign and offering immunity to a campaign consultant. The new information has reignited criticism that scandals within the city’s executive office and within the council are holding the District at bay.
“The longer that any perception of illegal activity or scandals is associated with [Gray’s] name, it continues to hang as an albatross around his neck,” said Bud Jackson, president of Jackson Group Media in Alexandria.”As long as this unfolds … it’s hard to accomplish anything,” he added later.
The Washington Examiner first reported this summer that a federal grand jury had begun hearing evidence in April into accusations of election misdeeds leveled by former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown. Brown says members of Gray’s mayoral campaign gave him cash-stuffed envelopes and money orders so he would stay in the race and keep up his verbal assault on then-Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Now, five months after the grand jury was impaneled, investigators appear to be focusing on Gray campaign Chairwoman Lorraine A. Green, campaign consultant Howard Brooks and others, the Washington Post has reported. Investigators have obtained fingerprints from Brown and Brooks, a close friend of Green’s, to determine whether the consultant passed envelopes to Brown during the course of the campaign, a source close to the probe confirmed.
Brown declined to be interviewed for this story.
Brooks’s son Payton has also been offered immunity in exchange for his testimony, according to the Post. Some said the offer implies that criminal charges will be filed.
“If you’re offered immunity, he has at least participated in or at least has knowledge of … a crime,” said political consultant Chuck Thies. “To me there’s no question that a crime was committed somewhere.”
Officials in Gray’s office did not return requests for comment on Sunday and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment for this story.
The investigation into Gray’s mayoral campaign has cast a shadow for nearly his entire administration. Just six weeks after he took office, it was revealed that Gray’s team hired allies and family members of staffers for cushy city jobs, including Brown. Brown was fired at the end of February and he then accused Gray of the cash-for-campaigning scheme.
In March, a House committee began an investigation into Brown’s accusations the same day Gray fired his chief of staff, Gerri Mason Hall.
In August a D.C. Council special committee issued a report citing Gray’s administration for nepotism and cronyism.
Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said on Sunday the Gray campaign investigation and probes into Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. and Chairman Kwame Brown’s campaign are a distraction for city hall.
“I’m just hoping for the sake of everyone involved, they [resolve] this as quickly as possible,” Evans said.
