D.C. Inspector General Charles Willoughby has recused his office from investigating claims by a former mayoral candidate that the Gray for Mayor campaign gave him cash and promised him a job so he could stay on the campaign trail last summer and attack then-Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Mayor Vince Gray on Monday asked Willoughby to investigate the claims by Sulaimon Brown. Brown has released a torrent of accusations against Gray since he was fired from the $110,000-a-year job the Gray administration hired him to do in January.
Before getting a job with the Department of Health Care Finance, Brown interviewed with the inspector general’s office.
“Although I do not believe that my meeting with Mr. Brown creates a conflict of interest that would prevent the OIG from conducting an independent investigation, to remove even the remote appearance or suggestion of a conflict of interest – and to ensure that all focus remains on resolving the allegations – I have determined that the Office of the Inspector General will not investigate Mr. Browns allegations,” a statement from Willoughby said.
Meanwhile, Channel 4’s Tom Sherwood is reporting that Brown says he is meeting with the FBI on Thursday. Calls to Brown were not returned Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s office has said it will neither “confirm nor deny” an investigation into Brown’s accusations while also noting that it takes all such claims seriously.
