Charles Willoughby comes off as an extremely decent fellow. He dresses well and speaks clearly, he has the right degree — a diploma from Howard Law School — and he’s friends with everyone in high places. But does the District of Columbia need a nice guy right now as its inspector general? Isn’t it time for a junkyard dog rather than a lap dog?
Watch Willoughby try to tell D.C. Council members on Monday why he is not investigating claims that Gray campaign operatives paid off Sulaimon Brown to heckle Adrian Fenty during the last mayoral race. It seems a secretary in the mayor’s office called and asked if Willoughby might have a job for Brown.
What’s wrong with this picture?
First, it speaks of a cozy relationship between the mayor and Willoughby, the erstwhile tough guy. Second, it suggests that elected officials can ask favors of the inspector general, and if they get it, or not, it compromises any future investigative dealings — as it has in the Brown matter.
Willoughby should have told the secretary to instruct Brown to apply for a job through official channels. Better yet, he would have railed at her for having the temerity to call his office. What did our watchdog do? He met personally with Brown — as a kindness to Gray.
Therefore, as he kindly testified, he could not investigate charges that Gray’s people handed greenbacks in envelopes to Sulaimon Brown during the campaign. Since Willoughby compromised himself, other investigative types filled the void: Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican itching to take down someone — anyone — ordered a probe; U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen and the FBI are asking questions.
Because Willoughby compromised himself, the sanctity of the District’s independence has suffered, and the federal authorities have had to fill the void.
Willoughby did not return calls and emails seeking comment Monday.
The IG’s ineffectiveness here begs a more serious question: Even if Willoughby had been able to investigate the Sulaimon Brown case, would anything have happened? The answer, from many law enforcement officials, past and present, is in doubt.
“If you want to bury something,” one former District legal official told me, “send it over there. Willoughby is not a prosecutorial type, not an investigator. When he gets in a political thicket, he’s not willing to stick his neck out.”
Willoughby’s operation can list successful prosecutions of low-level government workers, such as a few who took advantage of wards of the city in group homes. Commendable. But where was Willoughby when Harriette Walters stole $50 million from tax coffers? When the Metropolitan Police Department fudged crime numbers, lost rape kits, falsely arrested protesters? When Marion Barry gave city contracts to his girlfriend? When Harry Thomas passed campaign funds between his personal company and his campaign?
“They are asleep at the switch,” says police union chief Kristopher Baumann. “If you are a big fish, the OIG is not a threat to you.”
City officials should live in fear of a call from Charles Willoughby. Instead they have their secretary call him for favors. And he’s likely to comply.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
