Council Member to Introduce Money Order Limit

Legislation would ban money order campaign contributions higher than $25

In reaction to money orders that are part of a grand jury investigation into D.C. politics, the D.C. Council will consider a cap.

The federal grand jury is probing the possible use of suspicious money orders in city elections dating to 2003. In part, the grand jury is looking at tens of thousands of dollars in contributions by businessman Jeffrey Thompson, whose home and businesses were raided March 2.

Money orders for $500 or a $1,000 have been contributed to various campaigns, but money orders can easily hide otherwise illegal cash donations, making them harder to trace. Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh said she'll introduce legislation Tuesday that would limit any money order contribution to just $25

Mayor Vincent Gray's 2010 campaign is part of the probe. He received about $100,000 in total contributions from Thompson, News4 reported.

Gray insisted Monday he would have no further comment on the investigation, which he initially asked for, but he did say he'd support the $25 limit on money orders. Several other council members also said they’ll support it.

Any move to limit money orders to $25 would not have an effect on the April 3 primary but could be in place before fund-raising begins for the November general election.

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