Mayor Vince Gray knew about the illicit Jeff Thompson-funded effort to get him elected in 2010, prosecutors say in court papers filed today connected to Thompson’s plan to plead guilty to corruption charges.
Gray allegedly met with Thompson at Thompson associate Jeanne Clarke Harris‘ apartment in August 2010, according to Thompson’s statement of offense, detailed by federal prosecutors at a court hearing this afternoon. Gray associate Vernon Hawkins had originally relayed the request for $425,000 in illicit help, but Thompson had requested an in-person meeting with Gray before committing the money, court papers say.
Prosecutors say Gray knew the help would be off the books before the meeting. Afterwards, prosecutors say, Gray called Thompson “uncle” in gratitude, a reference to an alias Gray allegedly used to refer to Thompson, “Uncle Earl.”
The hearing revealed other payments Thompson allegedly made on Gray’s behalf. Among them: payment for a driver and luxury SUV in 2010, a $10,000 payment to a “close relative” of Gray’s, and $40,000 in home improvements and work for an unnamed Gray friend.
Once Gray was in office, prosecutors say, Thompson also asked the mayor to speed up a city settlement with his Medicaid contractor that has been another focus of federal investigation.
Filed under: The Watch Desk, Mayor Vince Gray, Thompson
Dateline: Washington, D.C. 