Harry Thomas Jr. (D) agreed to repay the District $300,000 in response to a lawsuit that alleged the D.C. councilmember diverted city grants for his own personal use.
Under the settlement filed in a D.C. Superior Court on July 22, the Office of the Attorney General has dropped its suit and Thomas has to make an initial payment of $50,000, and five more installments of $50,000 between now and December 2013, according to the office of Attorney General Irv Nathan. Along with repayments, Thomas is forbidden to direct, control and participates in the solicitation of charitable contributions in the District.
The agreement also required Thomas’s for-profit company, HLT Team Thomas/Swingway, LLC to donate sporting goods and equipment, which Thomas valued at $50,000. Donations will be sent to Stachel Paige/Senators Little League, a D.C. affiliate of Little League Baseball.
“We are pleased that Councilman Thomas has agreed to cooperate with us, repay his debt and spare the District the burden, expense and distraction of proving its case in court,” Nathan said in a statement.
On June 6, Nathan announced the lawsuit against “Team Thomas,” which stemmed from an “extensive investigation” by the OAG. The complaint issued by the office accused the Ward 5 representative of using a majority of earmarked grants for “youth baseball programs” to purchase luxury items, including vacations and an Audi. Grants from the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation were passed to Langston 21st Century Foundation then, under Thomas’ order, diverted to his for-profit and non-profit corporations.
While the settlement is not indication of wrongdoing on Thomas’ part, members of the D.C. Council have publicly called for his resignation.
According to Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), his settlement does not cover up the fact that he still “inappropriately diverted money for youth activities to his own benefit.”
“This implicit acknowledgement will, I believe, make it very difficult for him to continue to effectively serve the citizens of the District, and, therefore, I hope he will seriously consider stepping off the council,” Cheh stated.
David Catania (I-At-Large) also posted a statement on his site, saying Thomas’ continued presence on the council is unfair to D.C. residents. “The residents of the District of Columbia deserve better,” Catania stated. “With such serious allegations unanswered and an on-going investigation by the US Attorney, I believe that Councilmember Thomas should resign from the Council of the District of Columbia.”
Chairman Kwame Brown, in a statement, said he was “disappointed” at the situation, but said he was glad a settlement was reached to continue the city’s business. He also urged Thomas to do what’s best for his family and said the council will do what is best to uphold integrity of the council.
“As Chairman of the Council, my highest priority is to ensure that the people of this city have faith in their government,” Brown stated. “I have urged Councilmember Thomas to consider seriously doing what is best for his family and his constituents as he moves forward from the settlement.”
