Jeanne Clarke Harris, a communications advisor to the 2010 campaign of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, was charged Monday with conspiracy and making false statements, making her the third aide to Gray’s campaign to face prosecution.
Authorities charged Harris in a criminal information, a type of court filing that indicates a guilty plea is imminent. She is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
In a nine-page court filing, prosecutors said Harris and an unidentified “Co-Conspirator No. 1” funneled illegal donations to local and federal campaigns dating back as far as 2008.
Co-Conspirator No. 1, authorities wrote, reimbursed donors for their contributions. Those donors included Harris and her friends, family members and employees.
Harris has been in the spotlight since authorities raided her home and office in March, the same night federal agents searched locations with ties to Jeffrey Thompson, a prolific contributor to campaigns in the District.
Thompson has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and his attorney, Brendan Sullivan, has repeatedly declined to comment on the probe.
Although Gray was not named in the filing, prosecutors indicated that his campaign received illegal donations.
Harris is the latest Gray campaign aide to face federal charges since May, 14 months after authorities began investigating Gray’s campaign.
Howard Brooks, a campaign consultant, and Thomas Gore, the campaign’s assistant treasurer, have both pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to payments to Sulaimon Brown, a minor mayoral candidate.
Gray, who has not been charged, has denied wrongdoing. His criminal defense attorney, Robert Bennett, was unavailable for comment.
