If the D.C. Council doesn’t take strong action Tuesday to punish Marion Barry for alleged violations of local ethics laws and kickbacks in connection with a sole-source contract he awarded to a paramour and earmarks to cronies at apparently fake nonprofit organizations, District residents may want to file for a civil protective order; they are in danger of future injury.
The peripatetic politician should be kept away — off the council dais, out of the John A. Wilson Building and away from other government facilities. He has demonstrated a propensity to abuse the electorate repeatedly and indiscriminately.
The sign of an abuser is in the pattern of behavior, domestic violence counselors say. After the perpetrator physically pummels his victim, lobs painful verbal assaults or engages in other harmful acts, he often becomes remorseful, offering apologies accompanied by gifts and promises to reform his despicable ways.
How many times have residents heard Barry’s mea maxima culpas?
Didn’t he apologize in 1990? After his crack cocaine arrest he took to the pulpit of Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast, confessing an addiction to alcohol, prescription drugs and sex. Later, congregants from that church organized a caravan of cars and buses that traveled to the federal prison in Pennsylvania to bring Barry home — as if he were a returning hero.
In his last term as mayor, when he reportedly relapsed, Union Temple once again came to Barry’s rescue, serving as backdrop for yet another quasi-apology.
Did Barry offer a please forgive me when he was caught allegedly driving under the influence?
Wasn’t he somewhat contrite when he violated his probation for failing to file federal and local tax returns for eight straight years? He said the reason he didn’t honor the terms of the agreement that kept him out of jail was that he was distracted by his upcoming kidney transplant operation. I guess he never heard of H&R Block.
Last week, Barry apologized, again — at Union Temple Church, again. Aren’t the folks there tired of being used?
His latest confession came after he initially attempted to discredit lawyers Robert Bennett and Amy Sabrin and their investigation. The Ward 8 legislator declared he used poor judgment in awarding the contract to Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, and foolishly tried to repair a relationship that wasn’t “repairable.”
Such moments of compunction are snapshots of a classic abuser. We should all race to a safe house or get Barry out of our public house.
An Examiner reader, responding to my column last week, said my call for the council to amend the Home Rule Charter to permit it to impeach any elected official, including Barry, caught violating ethics laws or engaged in corrupt activities is “unconstitutional”; punishment can’t be applied retroactively.
No worries. The council should proceed with all deliberate speed in securing impeachment authority. Past is forever prologue in Barry’s narrative. There is every reason to believe that in short order he will be confessing and apologizing for yet another lapse in judgment.
Jonetta Rose Barras can be reached at [email protected].
