The deadline for D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown to relinquish his control of the powerful economic development committee is fast approaching, but which council member will take over has been complicated by a series of corruption scandals. Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. stepped down last month as the committee’s chairman after being accused by the D.C. attorney general of pocketing city cash meant for kids. Brown then pushed through a resolution that put him in charge of the committee that plays a key role in directing billions of dollars in development projects across the District. The resolution also set a deadline of July 15 for Brown to find a new committee chief.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, who serves as the council’s second in command, said “the chairman is trying to sort out the committee assignments. There’s a domino effect when you change committee leadership.”