Gray Nomination on Hold While Brown Allegations Investigated

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray's move to appoint his closest adviser to a key city post has been stalled in the wake of controversy in the new administration.

Lorraine Green was Gray's campaign chairman and is a longtime friend, and Gray wants to appoint her as chair of the influential Washington Convention and Sports Authority. But that will have to wait.

There are now two investigations into allegations that Gray's campaign paid another mayoral candidate to harshly criticize former Mayor Adrian Fenty on the campaign trail.

After losing his $110,000 job with the city following reports of a 2007 restraining order against him filed by the mother of a 13-year-old girl, Sulaimon Brown said Green was among those on Gray's campaign team that gave Brown money to attack Fenty.

Green flatly denied the allegation.

Both the D.C. Inspector General's Office and the Office of Campaign Finance and Ethics are looking into the allegations by Brown, who said Gray reneged on a deal by firing him from the city job. The hold on Green's nomination is indefinite pending the outcome of the investigations, D.C. Council Finance Committee Chairman Jack Evans said.

The accusations are so potentially damaging, Evans wants the U.S. attorney to look into the issue and get everyone under oath.

The controversy is getting attention on Capitol Hill, too. Brown was invited to meet with staff members of a House oversight committee Tuesday. That was considered an informational meeting only, but this controversy could wind up inviting congressional action if it's not quickly cleared up.


Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)

Contact Us