Council Members Encourage Thomas to Step Aside From Committee

“Let’s Go Deal With Harry”

The D.C. Council broke from its regular session Tuesday to go behind closed doors to discuss the controversy surrounding Council member Harry Thomas Jr.

Many D.C. Council members privately are encouraging Thomas to surrender his chairmanship of the powerful economic development committee at least until allegation of corruption against him are resolved.

On Monday, D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan accused Thomas of converting about $300,000 in government funds to personal use.

Tuesday’s council session seemed like business as usual until Council Chairman Kwame Brown said, “Let’s go deal with Harry.”

Reporters tried to follow the 13 council members into a private conference room until Brown took a formal vote to kick reporters out.

After about an hour behind closed doors, the council came out and Brown said it would announce a decision on Thomas Wednesday. That decision could include voting him out of the economic development committee chairmanship if he doesn’t voluntarily step aside.

The attorney general has filed an unusual civil lawsuit seeking to reclaim $1 million in lost funds and penalties from Thomas.

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