Gray gives thoughts on disgraced former councilman

Mayor Vincent Gray spoke candidly about former D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. on Wednesday for the first time since Thomas resigned and pleaded guilty to stealing from the city at the beginning of this month. Gray, who has previously declined to comment at length in public settings, also managed to portray himself as somewhat of an oracle by saying he wanted earmarks banned because he was worried about abuse.

Gray was chairman of the council when it did away with steering city funding toward council members’ pet projects in their wards. But not before Thomas steered $400,000 to nonprofits in Ward 5 that then kicked most of the money back to Thomas.