Marion Barry Says He's Sorry
He doesn't think he did anything illegal, but Marion Barry has apologized for failing to use what he termed "good judgment" when he hired girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt under a personal services contract with his office, WRC/NBC4 reports.
More Highlights from the Bennett/Barry Report
We've been busy since yesterday reading through the full 107-page report, prepared by Special Counsel Robert Bennett, on the findings of his investigation into alleged ethics violations by D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8). While you've already read the gist of the report's biggest revelations, there's plenty more material in there that shouldn't go unmentioned. So we've excerpted some of the most revealing passages below:
Marion Barry Comes to His Own, Strange Defense
You've read the stories and maybe even read the report detailing how D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) has repeatedly misused city money by doling it out to his personal friends and associates. That included his former girlfriend, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, from whom he allegedly then asked for kickbacks. You may have already made up your mind about Barry's guilt. But give the man a chance to defend himself, OK?
Read the Bennett Report on Barry, Council Earmarks
We finally got the full report, all 107 pages of it. Guess what we'll be reading tonight! Enjoy.
Barry Misused Council Funds, Took Kickbacks, Report Finds
If you weren't tuned in to Channel 13 this morning, you missed an extraordinary presentation by former Skadden attorney Robert Bennett on his findings from the ethics investigation into Ward 8 D.C. Council member Marion Barry. Bennett, alongside his associate, Amy Sabrin, today laid out in great detail how they found Barry had repeatedly violated ethics laws when he funneled city money to his personal friends and associates, including his former girlfriend, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt.
Voting Rights: Failure and the Future
And so it was -- the U.S. Senate voted today 57-42 in favor of closing debate on legislation that would grant the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives, three short of what was needed to prevent a Republican-led filibuster. The measure, which passed the House in April, is now likely dead, and another attempt to correct a 200-year injustice has been thwarted. Of course, the legislation could be re-introduced, but it won't...
Voting Rights Hearing Scheduled in Senate
The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing to consider legislation that would grant the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives. The hearing, which will be presided over by bill sponsor Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), will take place on Tuesday, May 15 in 342 Dirksen. The hearing -- which we'll try to live-blog, obvs -- should be interesting. Among the Republicans on the committee are a...
Reader, Meet Author
TUESDAY Tired of running into the virtual junta of returned Peace Corps volunteers living in our fair city and being forced to listen to story upon story about how working in an office every day will just never be as fulfilling as digging that well in Cameroon? Then this event is not for you. Former Peace Corps volunteers read from and sign A Life Inspired: Tales of Peace Corps Service. Peace Corps, 111 20th...

