Jeffrey Thompson. Photo from CSPAN.Jeffrey Thompson, the man who allegedly funded a secret “shadow campaign” on behalf of Vincent Gray’s 2010 campaign, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to violate federal and District of Columbia campaign finance laws.
“From in or about May 2010, until on or about September 14,2010, Thompson used [his companies] to disburse approximately $668,800 in excessive and unreported corporate contributions to pay for campaign service and campaign materials in coordination with and in support of a political candidate for Mayor of the District of Columbia,” the 10-page criminal information document filed today says. Thompson allegedly gave the same treatment to seven other campaigns.
Gray campaign spokesperson Chuck Thies said in a release to read the charging documents “carefully.”
“Common misconceptions espoused by our opponents and echoed in the media are not substantiated in the Jeffrey Thompson charging documents,” Thies said, adding that the language in the document is the same for each candidate. “Mayor Gray called for this investigation. Mayor Gray has always said he did not break any laws.”
As the Post notes: “The charges against Thompson are outlined in court papers that are filed in felony cases only with the defendant’s consent, signaling that a plea agreement has been reached.” Thompson will appear in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia at 1:30 p.m. today.
