Federal officials are investigating a possible "shadow campaign" in D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s 2010 run for mayor.
The alleged "shadow campaign" is part of the focus of the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is probing the 2010 Gray campaign and its possible use of unreported cash and other expenses.
Sources pointed The Washington Post to long-time political operative Vernon Hawkins as being involved. Hawkins, who has worked on field operations for several campaigns, did not return telephone calls. Gray’s office had no comment.
Sources with knowledge of the Gray campaign previously told News4 that there was some legitimate confusion about who had authority to spend money in the field. A source said people were paid cash directly, independent of the campaign.
Gray's campaign was rushing to compete with former Mayor Adrian Fenty, whose campaign had millions in the bank, sources said.
One Gray source said any "shadow campaign" may have been a misguided effort by some to create a safeguard to back up the get-out-the-vote operation to even the playing field against Fenty.
The mayor told reporters this week he would no longer comment on any aspect of the federal investigation. He said he asked for the investigation last year and is waiting for the results.
