Trial of Douglas Jemal offers glimpse into D.C. government

For a month now, a U.S. District Court jury has listened to eye-opening tales of citycorruption and yawn-inducing explanations of complex business deals in the trial of a prominent developer that has revealed much about the workings of D.C. government.

In the trial of Douglas Jemal, his son Norman and his right-hand man, Blake Esherick, prosecutors are trying to portray the flamboyant developer as a common thief who bribed a D.C. official to steer million-dollar contracts his way. Jemal’s high-powered defense team is trying to show that the business man was simply giving gifts to a friend and trying to help District leaders out of their own political and financial problems.