WASHINGTON -- District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray (D) hasn't been cooperating with federal prosecutors investigating his 2010 campaign efforts, according to recent reports.
In the past, Gray repeatedly said he's cooperating with authorities in an investigation that’s more than a year old and has seen some felony convictions, but he would not repeat that pledge Monday.
"I was the one who called for an investigation of my own campaign, and we will continue to work with this investigation," Gray had said in July.
But the mayor, who hasn't been charged with any crime, has apparently stepped away from those earlier words and wouldn't say if he's cooperating with prosecutors.
"I've indicated... all along, especially in the recent past, that it would really be inappropriate for me to comment on a pending investigation, and that continues to be my position," Gray said. "The investigation is ongoing, and we'll see it through."
This weekend, The Washington Post's editorial page, which has repeatedly called on the mayor to be more forthcoming about the allegations surrounding his successful campaign to oust incumbent Adrian Fenty (D), cited sources who said that Gray "isn't talking" to prosecutors.
WRC-TV/NBC4, also citing unnamed sources, affirmed the Post editorial page's assertion that Gray has been uncooperative. Gray's lawyer, Robert Bennett, hasn't responded to questions about the mayor's alleged resistance to meeting with federal investigators.
Prosecutors have been investigating what's been described as a "shadow" campaign that illegally funneled more than $650,000 in unauthorized contributions to efforts to boost Gray's candidacy. Three people, Thomas Gore, Jeanne Clarke Harris and Howard Brooks, have pleaded guilty in recent months to charges related to the secret campaign efforts.
As the Post reported earlier this month, David Dzidzienyo, the director of Gray's official campaign field operations, said he voiced concerns to Gray during the 2010 race about how campaign efforts headed up by longtime local campaign operative Vernon Hawkins were being funded.
Gray responded, according to the Post: "I don't want to hear about problems. I just want to be the candidate."
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