FBI, IRS At Harry Thomas' Home: Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Not Arrested

WASHINGTON -- The FBI is at the home of D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5), according various reports Friday morning.

Thomas was sued by D.C. Attorney General Irv Nathan for misdirecting $300,000 in city money through his Team Thomas non-profit organization for personal use, including an Audi SUV and outings to Hooters and Pebble Beach. Thomas settled with the D.C. attorney general but has remained under investigation.

While information about the search is still developing,the councilmember has not been arrested. The FBI is, apparently, interested in the councilmember's SUV.

D.C. Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), who has been spearheading new ethics reform, says "It puts the point that ethics reform is urgent," according to WTOP's Mark Segraves, who also reports that the Internal Revenue Service is part of the search.

Washington City Paper has put together a "Beginner’s Guide" to scandal involving the councilmember, son of a legendary Ward 5 councilmember.

Washington City Paper also reports that law enforcement officials took "two or three garbage bags' worth of materials out of Thomas' house and put them in a vehicle." A tow truck was positioned on Thomas' 17th Street cul-du-sac.

Developing ...

Comments

[dbrett480]

03:06 PM on 12/08/2011

I thought Democrats didn't do this.

[JFaye]

01:51 AM on 12/05/2011

He needs to study Newton Gingrich and learn how to become extremely rich by taking from the government you hate and then later re-invent yourself to become the top polling candidate for your party. What? Well, here is a recap:

Eighty-fou­r ethics charges were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term, including claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. Following an investigat­ion by the House Ethics Committee Gingrich was sanctioned US$300,000­.[69] Gingrich acknowledg­ed in January 1997 that "In my name and over my signature, inaccurate­, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the committee"­. [70] The House Ethics Committee concluded that inaccurate informatio­n supplied to investigat­ors represente­d "intention­al or ... reckless" disregard of House rules.[71] Special Counsel James M. Cole concluded that Gingrich violated federal tax law and had lied to the ethics panel in an effort to force the committee to dismiss the complaint against him. The full committee panel did not agree whether tax law had been violated[7­2] and left that issue up to the IRS.[73] In 1999, the IRS cleared the organizati­ons connected with the "Renewing American Civilizati­on" courses under investigat­ion for possible tax violations­.[74][75] Wikepidia source”

[nautilus55]

11:31 PM on 12/04/2011

Sounds like this guy can join the other Democrat crooks like the 6 members of the Bell, California city council members indicted for fraud and conspiracy.
Top city manager paid $800,000 salary -highest in ALL California and possibly the nation
Police chief $457,000 more than LA City police chief
Asst. City Manager $376,288 more than the TOP administrator for LA
All of these outrageous salaries in one of Los Angeles County's poorest cities.
The DC guy and all these crooks should be locked up and throw away the key

[CrawfishFestival]

02:15 AM on 12/04/2011

yep, he diverted $300,000.00 of grant money - intended for YOUTHs - to his own non-profits - so that he could purchase two luxury vehicles - and travel on golf trips.

Sounds like the same thing that Louisiana Democrat US Congressman William "Dollar-Bill" Jefferson was FINALLY indicted for doing with his entire family = "looting" non-profits run by the Jefferson family - for DECADES - converted to their own personal use = buying luxury vehicles, paying their home mortgages, paying taxes on their personal real estate - sometimes on the exact same day the grant money was deposited in the accounts of their non-profits -

with grant money = earmarked for the inner city poor, blacks and minorities - or earmarked to make repairs to homes of elderly African-Americans.

Seems like that is a regular routine - for the politically-elite = open non-profits, funnel grant money to these non-profits and loot them - never expecting to get caught - or held accountable - because of their positions of power.

[Kenz300]

01:05 PM on 12/03/2011

Political corruption must not be tolerated.

[Brehas2]

12:31 PM on 12/03/2011

I'm not surprized. From the moment Obama appointed the Clintonistas he went and still is going downhill..

[mjune]

09:27 PM on 12/04/2011

Not! Obama 2012!

[Brehas2]

12:29 PM on 12/03/2011

Everyday you open the newspaper and the Internet you find another corrupt Democrat , Thomas, Corzine, Pelosi, Solyndra, Holder, Fast and Furious, Abound Energy, Light Energy, $1,2 billion, $500 million, and no one has been arrested so far. Its amazing.

[CrawfishFestival]

08:53 PM on 12/04/2011

that is why Obama is protecting Holder's employment = obstruction of justice tactics.

[nautilus55]

11:17 PM on 12/04/2011

You are right and dont leave out the DEMOCRAT city council of Bell,California that gave themselves huge salaries and now are indicted. It IS TRULY amazing.

[JudgeandJury]

10:34 AM on 12/03/2011

Another black politician in the DC area about to take the perp walk.

[Marvin Hadley Jr]

09:31 AM on 12/03/2011

He appears guilty as sin. The district has many corrupt council members. It is a den of sin and iniquity. May the Lord have pity on the District of Columbia, eh?

[mjune]

09:28 PM on 12/04/2011

din not den, Marvin.

[mjune]

09:29 PM on 12/04/2011

or maybe "den"--

[Game Changer 88]

10:07 PM on 12/02/2011

All this because the World Fortune snatched all the Government criminals "Hush-Money" and
"Play/Theft- Money". I say Beautiful.

[Imhotep40]

09:47 PM on 12/02/2011

Chocolate City is no more . . . . and that goes for city councilmembers in addition

[mjune]

09:30 PM on 12/04/2011

"Chocolate city?:

[Imhotep40]

11:14 PM on 12/04/2011

I know I'm showing my age . . . . does George Clinton ring a bell? He coined the phrase in song to describe the majority population residing in DC from the 60's through the 90's.

[T-Haight]

08:23 PM on 12/02/2011

I'm sure he was set up, just like his fellow councilman and former mayor Marion Barry.

That said, it sounds like Mayor Gray could be joining them soon.

[ProfessorBIGWUN]

08:01 AM on 12/03/2011

Criminals need to be set up.

[Marvin Hadley Jr]

09:32 AM on 12/03/2011

Gray is not the same type. He is hapless and incompetent, but not a felon at heart like some in the Council, eh?

[First Blast]

01:23 PM on 12/02/2011

Gangsta

[InfinteShibumi]

12:59 PM on 12/02/2011

Oh, Tommy. Your father must be rolling in his grave...

[Marvin Hadley Jr]

09:33 AM on 12/03/2011

More likely, break dancing, eh?

[InfinteShibumi]

11:07 AM on 12/03/2011

Fail.