January 6, 2012
Liz Farmer
Washington Examiner Staff Writer
"He's disgracing himself, the District and his family," said Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh. "It's really been a lot to take on. I don't think he's a bad person -- I've known him for four years and I consider him my friend. But nobody's above the law."
Thomas said he would plead guilty in court Friday to the theft and tax fraud that federal prosecutors said began just months after he entered office in 2007. He resigned from office "effective immediately," according to a statement issued Thursday night.
In that statement, he acknowledged that he had caused pain to his family, friends and constituents.
"I made some poor decisions and acted in ways I simply should not have," he said in the statement. "I was wrong. I want to apologize to those I have let down, including my constituents, neighbors and friends."
The scene outside Thomas' office in city hall was somber Thursday, as employees limited their conversations with those who stopped by. The door, normally open, this week has usually been closed.
Cheh is one of three council members who had previously called on Thomas to resign. But the others -- Tommy Wells and David Catania -- have remained quiet this week, simply saying they stand by their previous statements. Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans has declined to comment to the press, saying through a spokesman he would comment after Thomas' deal is reached.
At-large Councilmen Michael Brown and Vincent Orange, longtime friends of Thomas, were similarly subdued. Orange has been unresponsive this week, and Brown on Thursday said he wouldn't comment "at this time."
Those who did speak Thursday expressed a sense of regret for the shadow cast over the city government. Ward 4 Councilwoman Muriel Bowser expressed "sadness" that Thomas faced criminal charges, and Council Chairman Kwame Brown said he was "disappointed" by the news.
Storm clouds have been growing over city hall since the beginning of Mayor Vincent Gray's administration a year ago. Several council members, including Chairman Brown, face questions about ethical lapses. Five of the 13 members were hit by scandal over the course of 2011, and a federal grand jury was impaneled to investigate Gray's 2010 campaign.
But on Thursday, there was no playing defense. "You've got to keep coming in, trying to do our business," said Cheh. "[But] we have to go through this with him.
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