D.C. Councilman David Catania on Monday called for an independent investigation into a slate of nonprofits that have received hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars but are alleged to have been created out of Marion Barry’s office through forgery.
Catania, chairman of the health committee, abruptly recessed his hearing after reading an opening statement that all but accused the Ward 8 councilman’s office of fraud. Barry’s office reportedly is behind, and perhaps in control of, six nonprofits that received $450,000 in council-directed fiscal 2009 earmarks, and are slated to pick up another $575,000 in 2010.
“These accusations are extremely serious and should be reviewed,” Catania said. “At the very least, each of these allegations should be investigated and a full accounting of all receipts and expenditures of each of the referenced entities must be conducted.”
Tensions between Catania and Barry have mounted since the former mayor cast the lone “no” vote a couple months ago against a gay marriage recognition bill.
The nonprofits called into question by Catania: Ward 8 Clean & Sober, Ward 8 Clean & Green, Ward 8 Youth Leadership Council, Ward 8 Education Council, Ward 8 Health Council and the Ward 8 Workforce Development Council. All six were incorporated last Oct. 29.
Sharon Wise, a former director of two of the nonprofits, now claims that her name was used fraudulently by Barry’s office to incorporate three of the nonprofits. She detailed her allegations of mass forgery and fraud to the Washington City Paper in a story published Friday.
Wise declined comment Monday.
Barry staff member Brenda Richardson, Catania said, is the “ultimate administrator of the council grant money” and was behind the incorporations. Her orders, Catania said, “allegedly came from Mr. Barry.”
Barry vehemently disputed any wrongdoing. He said Catania “seems to have a personal vendetta.”
“No council member has the authority to give grants, to give anything,” Barry said Monday. “The council of the District of Columbia does that, not Marion Barry. I resent somebody trying to put it on me.”
While forgery would be a criminal matter, it is unclear whether incorporating a nonprofit through a council office is illegal.
These most recent allegations have no connection to Barry’s July 4 arrest for stalking, nor his controversial contract with an ex-girlfriend, which is now the subject of an independent council investigation.
