June 21, 2007
Marion Barry: The Untouchable
Previously on DCist, we declared that no jail could hold Marion Barry, albeit a tad prematurely. For those of you not following the case, federal prosecutors were seeking jail time for Barry for violating the terms of his probation after he pleaded guilty in 2005 to misdemeanor charges for failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004. The terms of the deal mandated that he comply with all federal tax laws -- and then Barry failed to file his 2005 tax returns on time.
The prosecutors filed a motion to have Barry's probation revoked in February, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson rejected the request, saying she needed to hear from the U.S. Probation Office, and not the prosecutors, on the matter. But the attorneys quickly appealed the decision, leading to yet another visit to court today for the former mayor and current D.C. Council member.
The Associated Press now reports that Judge Robinson has once again ruled in Barry's favor, deciding that the prosecutors didn't prove Barry willfully failed to file his 2005 returns, even if he was aware he missed the deadline.
After successfully beating a series of traffic violations this month, including a DUI charge, we are ready to declare that Council member Barry's new nickname is Eliot Ness.
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I doubt we'll ever see the "Mayor for Life" in jail. He's bullet proof.
Eliot Ness? Don't you mean he's Capone. Eliot Ness was with the FBI, right?
This is so ridiculous. A waste of our tax dollars. Can't he go snort coke in LA and act in bad movies, like everyone else???
Seriously. If I ever see Barry on the streets I'm going to toe-kick him in the junk.
VC: Nope. Elliot Ness was with the U.S. Treasury Department, Bureau of Prohibition. J.E. Hoover hated that.
bullet proof?
No ms, ... NOT GUILTY!
Capone?
Hardly VC, ... NOT GUILTY!
English major, you are right. It was an absolute waste of tax dollars and the prosecutor should have recognized that from the very start.
And dcres, don't be silly kiddo. DC is a changing. But it ain't too wise to be even fakin' about that. Tired, old, Marion ain't neva been a punk. He just might break yo foot off.
Mike Licht, Thanks for the little history lesson. I didn't know that.
A parting thought... if everybody else would just stop talking about Barry, worrying about Barry, tracking Barry, etc., he would not get so much press.
And maybe, just maybe, the people in Ward 7 would feel compelled to vote him out, rather than feel compelled to defend him.
You know how it is in politics sometimes. Just about any press is good press if you know how to play the game. And Marion been playin it for a while.
luckychucky, don't comment unless you have your FACTS straight. WARD 8 is Barry's ward... HOW could anyone make that mistake???? Really??? Also, I wonder when Fenty is prosecuted if he will have such luck at beating his crimes??? Makes you say "hmmmmm..."
Dr. T: I wonder, why the Fenty hating? Could you be specfic on why you think he'll be brought up on criminal charges?
The only thing more terrible than not sending this vermin to jail is that he keeps being re-elected. Shame on those who continue to support him.
Hey J-, it's the same psychological factors that causes Southerners to support David Duke and xtians to support the GOP: Politics of Identity. They see Marion as "one of them", despite his being a cobag, and as long as they continue to do so, he will keep getting elected.
Dr. T, I been away from here for a week. Frankly, I forgot my password. But, it's me, and I ain't suprized at what I found now that I'm back. So, let me be careful not to make a typo as I say this.
Thanks for being as smaht as you is. I musta thought Barry represented 7. But you caught that and pointed it out to erbody. You smaht.
What's up with you about Fenty? Did you dig something up? If you know something c'mon wid it!
If not, you got two choices that make any sense on this subject, or the last...
Shut up, close the lid, and keep digging.
or
Climb out, wash up, and shut up!
Judging from the silence after the last two posts, you appear to have chosen...
That's good. That's smaht.
luckychucky? Yeah, luckychucky!
Hey J-, it's the same psychological factors that causes Southerners to support David Duke and xtians to support the GOP: Politics of Identity. They see Marion as "one of them", despite his being a cobag, and as long as they continue to do so, he will keep getting elected.
"Cobag." Nice, I like that one.
Your larger point is spot on as well; before MB was dubbed 'Mayor for Life' he was also known as 'The People's Mayor'. Barry's ability to tap into a connection with "the last, the least, and the lost" (his words, not mine) is key to his continuing electoral success. Considering that MB was immortalized smoking rocks on camera, did time at Lorton, got busted for getting serviced in the visiting area at Lorton, hasn't paid taxes, violated probation, etc. and still walks the streets a free man and a member of the DC City Council; I think it's safe to say that he'll be in office as long as he wants to be.