The public-private partnership that former D.C. Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. used to steal more than $353,000 in public money gave preferential treatment to the nonprofit organization that played a starring role in helping the lawmaker to embezzle city funds, internal emails disclosed Monday show.
At a D.C. Council oversight hearing, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham read aloud portions of internal Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp. messages that showed officials of that organization allowed Langston 21, a group with close ties to Thomas, to receive grants with minimal paperwork even as the CYITC rejected other proposals. Langston 21 passed the city’s money to entities Thomas later implicated, organizations that he said had ultimately funneled cash to him.
The CYITC had sought to prevent disclosure of the emails, which it turned over to the council as a part of that body’s inquiry into the organization that will accept about $3 million in city money this year.
| No shows |
| The scandal surrounding former Councilman Harry Thomas Jr.’s theft of public funds has brought unwelcome attention to the D.C. Council for months. But at a Monday oversight hearing into the organization that was the conduit for the embezzlement, only two lawmakers — Jim Graham and Tommy Wells — appeared. Three other committee members — Yvette Alexander, Marion Barry and Michael Brown — weren’t present for any of the more than 90 minutes of testimony from the president of the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp. |
Graham said he didn’t understand why CYITC officials didn’t demand more accountability from Langston 21.
“You have a situation where there were lots of flags,” Graham said. “It’s mystifying to me.”
But political pressure prevailed, and CYITC repeatedly handed out checks worth up to $100,000 to Langston 21.
Ellen London, the current president of the CYITC who served there in a different role during Thomas’ illicit activities, said she knew of no other politicians who pressured the partnership to give special treatment to certain grant applicants.
In her opening statement to the council’s Human Services Committee, London focused on the organization’s progress. She didn’t mention the embezzlement scandal until the end of her comments when she said she would “not be addressing any specific past transactions.”
Thomas resigned on Jan. 5, one day before he pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the thefts. His plea deal with prosecutors calls for him to serve up to 47 months in prison after his May 3 sentencing.
Other individuals with ties to Thomas have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, but the scandal has also ensnared people who haven’t been charged. Millicent West, who served as president of the CYITC during Thomas’ thefts, abruptly quit as the District’s top homeland security official in January. In her resignation letter, West cited “distractions.”
