When findings in a recently released investigative report into contracting for renovation of recreation centers are compared with the charges made during a yearlong probe, it’s clear D.C. Council members had engaged in a campaign to discredit then-Mayor Adrian M. Fenty; deliberately misinformed the public; and knowingly sullied legitimate businesses. Harry Thomas Jr. and other legislators had accused Fenty of purposefully circumventing the council when he enlisted the D.C. Housing Authority to administer a multimillion-dollar construction contract. That process involved transferring funds from the Department of Parks and Recreation’s capital budget to the Office of the Deputy Mayor and ultimately the housing authority. That led to an agreement between the housing agency and Banneker Ventures LLC-Regan Associates. Omar Karim, a Fenty fraternity brother, owns Banneker.
Fenty also was accused by council members of contract steering and possible criminal wrongdoing.
When the investigation began in 2009, Fenty and the council were at war. With axes to grind, legislators, including then-Chairman Vincent Gray, used the controversy during the 2010 election to cast aspersion on Fenty and his administration.
Thomas told me this week any politics played were “outside of the council.” He said the report vindicates the committee. Legislators will decide later this week how to handle special counsel Robert Trout’s recommendations, including referring to the U.S. attorney for further investigation into the relationship between Banneker and several subcontractors, including Liberty Engineering & Design.
“I’m satisfied with the referral and that we can put some things in place so this never happens again,” Thomas added.
Many allegations made during the council’s shrill yearlong investigation proved false, however. Trout found the mayor wasn’t involved in any wrongdoing. The housing agency was enlisted to expedite long-delayed projects. Money transferred to the agency was less than the $87 million legislators had cited. Only $6 million reached the housing authority; $4.5 million of that went to Banneker-Regan and subcontractors.
The selection of Banneker-Regan was reasonable and based on merit. “We have therefore concluded that the award of the contract to Banneker is not a matter that calls for further investigation,” Trout said.
“I feel vindicated. I’m going to move on and continue to do good work,” Karim told me Monday, while citing the Walker-Jones Education Complex and Deanwood as examples of Banneker’s superior work. “We’re a model firm.”
Karim and LEAD, headed by another Fenty friend, Sinclair Skinner, shouldn’t relax yet. Trout has said the U.S. attorney should examine their relationship because they failed to answer questions about the dealings between other companies they own. That suggested they may be “hiding” something.
A. Scott Bolden, managing partner with Reed Smith and Karim and Sinclair’s attorney, said the companies’ dealings were unrelated to the DPR contract. “There was zero relevance” to the core investigation.
Trout asked for federal involvement but cautioned, “We express no view as to the likely outcome of a future inquiry.”
So, the fishing expedition continues.
“The great irony,” said Bolden, “is that this report is suspect because of the ethical cloud the executive and council find themselves under.”
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
