Report: Key Gray Campaign Staffer Wore Wire

10.18.2011_davis.jpg We all know that federal prosecutors are still looking into Mayor Vince Gray's 2010 campaign, notably claims that campaign staffers paid fellow candidate Sulaimon Brown to attack Adrian Fenty and that they illegally accepted cash contributions and turned them into money orders.

But WUSA9 has one of the juiciest rumors to date, involving none other than Howard Brooks, a Gray campaign staffer who has remained a central focus of the federal probe:

Sources tell 9News Now that Howard Brooks, a key staffer in the Gray campaign, has worn a wire for prosecutors. Others have refused to wear a wire. Brooks recorded at least one conversation for federal prosecutors, according to sources.

As you may recall, Brooks was allegedly one of the campaign staffers who handed Brown cash to continue his tirades against Fenty.

Beyond the sheer intrigue of this, plenty of questions remain. For one, what exactly could Brooks get on tape, and who could he get it from? Did he get Lorraine Green, who managed Gray's campaign and transition, admitting to anything illegal? Or Gray himself? Or did the wire prove fruitless, having been used too late after the election and after all of the campaign's main participants had lawyered up?

Like much of the investigation, we'll likely only find out the full details if charges are brought against Gray's campaign. If not, well, this will go down as just another scintillating nugget of news from the post-election scandals.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Martin Austermuhle in News on October 18, 2011 4:40 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

sherrydong

“The numbers are quite strong,” John Morton, ICE administrator, told the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing. http://bit.ly/oeuny9

sbraverm

is it possible that the wire was to record him talking with Sulaimon and getting an admission that Sulaimon lied under oath for a perjury prosecution? Not that I think Brooks, Gray, etc. are squeaky-clean, but neither is Brown (any Brown..Kwame, Michael, etc., it seems).

BSmithDC

Great another criminal Mayor that divides the city along racial lines...didn't we already go through this b-s-?

HillmanDC

We did. And our current mayor crawled into bed with said former criminal Mayor, took a giant page from his playbook, has hired his cronies (see taxicab commission for a prime example), and this is the result.

Although in Marion Barry's own defense he went to jail for smoking crack. His defenders have a point when they say it was entrapment. If you watch the tape he resisted repeatedly.

Not to say the bastard didn't belong in prison. Just not for that.

poopieface

Next election, or recall campaign if it happens, can we expect Gary to parade around in a Dashiki?

HillmanDC

I would not be surprised.

BombaySplashVermouth

Was the wire between a battery and a round ball?

D_Rez

Pretty sure it was between a battery and a pair of them.

Fafou Dabou

Man I wish I could get that SHEEEIT quote as an alert for my phone. It would be awesome.

Newhce

It's pretty easy if you have android.

poopieface

Nothing is easy if you have Android.

poopieface

Say what you will about the story, that picture is the most awesome thing ever.

D_Rez

Given what's known probably a deal was offered Brooks if he got to his former boss and Gray's campaign manager Lorraine Green. Regardless, sounds like charges are forthcoming on her and/or Brooks. Perhaps more.