Liz Farmer and Alan Blinder, Examiner Staff Writers
The Examiner (Washington, DC) June 8, 2012
As news of another charge against former D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown rippled through city hall one day after he resigned in disgrace, his former colleagues said theyre shell shocked and done with the drama that has rocked the John A. Wilson Building this year.
"I'm angry. Im furious. Those people Harry Tommy Thomas [Jr.], Kwame their behavior has disgraced the District of Columbia," the councils acting chairwoman, Mary Cheh, of Ward 3, said Thursday.
It has been an unprecedented year for the city, during which two lawmakers have resigned in the face of federal charges.
In January, Thomas became the first council member of the Home Rule era to resign when he abruptly left office before pleading guilty to stealing more than $353,000 in city funds.
Five months later, Browns resignation came hours after prosecutors charged him with bank fraud for allegedly lying about his income on a loan application.
Several lawmakers said Thursday that they plan on supporting at- large Councilman Phil Mendelson next week, when lawmakers pick an interim chairman to serve until the city can hold a special election.
In an interview with The Washington Examiner, Mendelson said he was eager for the council to return to a normal state and to rebuild public trust by quietly doing the citys business.
"The business of government is we spend within our means, that the average citizen can go to the DMV ... without waiting four hours in line," Mendelson said. "There isnt a lot of drama about stuff that can really make a difference, and yet it really makes a difference."
But Wednesday's chaotic scenes news of the charge against Brown, a swarm of reporters outside Brown's office suite, a closed-door meeting with lawmakers and the chairmans resignation didn't signal an and to the drama that surrounded the Brown affair.
Prosecutors on Thursday filed a second charge against Brown, a misdemeanor count of breaking the District's campaign finance laws. Authorities said Brown had a relative open a side account to pay for campaign activities off-book.
The bank fraud charge and the misdemeanor count were both filed using documents that signal a guilty plea is imminent, and Brown is due to appear in court on Friday.
Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said he didn't think Brown's anticipated guilty pleas would signal an end the saga.
"I don't think its over with the chairman," Evans said. "I don't think we know everything yet."
lfarmer@washingtonexaminer.com
ablinder@washingtonexaminer.com