The D.C. campaign finance office is investigating the connection between Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr.’s support for a proposed residential development and the builder’s donation of thousands of dollars to a nonprofit Thomas established.

The conflict of interest investigation was launched after the editor of a Brookland newsletter requested an informal opinion of Thomas’s dealings with developer EYA as it sought approval for a proposed development in the Northeast neighborhood. The 237-unit townhome development near the St. Paul’s College campus was approved late last year.