In the District Tuesday, Mayor Vincent Gray fended off more questions about the ongoing federal investigation into his 2010 campaign and said he appreciates a citizens rally supporting him planned for Wednesday, though he isn't promoting it and won't attend.
At a ribbon cutting for new traffic controls in northeast D.C., a New York Times reporter asked the mayor about the campaign scandal, which is becoming a national story. Gray declined to answer when he first knew about a $650,000 shadow campaign and repeated that he has no plans to resign, for which three D.C. Council members have called.
Organizers of Wednesday’s rally say they don’t know if Gray is guilty of anything or not, but they do know that he hasn’t been charged.
“Whether they think he's guilty or innocent, that they respect the process and respect him as a person, and because he has not been charged with anything at this point people should just wait and let him do his job,” said the Rev. Willie Wilson, of Union Temple Baptist Church.
Wilson and the Rev. Graylan Hagler, of Plymouth Congregational, are leading the rally. The veteran activists have differed with Gray on some issues but say he should be treated fairly.
“I appreciate the fact that people are standing up and speaking out on the issue,” Gray said. “I don't know what they're going to say, but it's nice of them to do that, and I appreciate it.”
