Someone using an e-mail address that looks like it’s affiliated with Ward 4 D.C. Council candidate Michael Brown has circulated a link to a decade-old news story about his guilty plea to a misdemeanor federal election-law violation.
Brown on Wednesday acknowledged the conviction, saying he has nothing to hide about the case, but said he has no idea who is behind the e-mail. It’s not affiliated with his campaign.
“Sounds like one of the problems with being a front-runner,” said Brown, who is one of two Democrats considered as a front-runner in the 19-way race. “We’re not wasting any time on it.”
No one seemed to know who was behind the e-mail and no one responded Wednesday to a query sent to the e-mail address, “[email protected].”
Brown admitted in U.S. District Court in August 1997 to making $4,000 in illegal contributions to the 1994 re-election campaign of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The contribution exceeded the $2,000 federal legal limit for individual donors. He was also accused of asking three people to make contributions to Kennedy’s 1994 campaign that he later reimbursed.
Brown struck a deal with federal prosecutors for a misdemeanor charge and received no prison time. The case also surfaced during his failed bid for mayor last year.
“I was in my 20s, didn’t really know the laws, made a mistake, took responsibility and moved on,” Brown said.
Ward 4 Democratic candidate Charles Gaither’s press secretary, Doug Larkin, sent a copy of the e-mail to The Examiner. Gaither said he got a blind copy of the e-mail Tuesday. He said Brown’s 10-year-old legal woes had relevance.
“I’m not out there trying to stir anything up,” Gaither said. “I’m just out there talking to voters.”
John Falcicchio, campaign manager for Muriel Bowser, Brown’s toughest competitor in the race, said he wasn’t aware of the e-mail.
“I haven’t received it as of yet, so I don’t know who they sent it out to,” Falcicchio said.
