The Washington, D.C., Council has questioned third-party investigators who found a councilman violated council ethics rules.
The O'Melveny & Myers lawyers were publicly questioned for nearly five hours Tuesday about their findings into their investigation on Jack Evans.
It's unprecedented that the D.C. Council held a public hearing on whether or not to expel a sitting council member. Twelve council members — all except Evans — questioned the law firm that was hired by the council to investigate the embattled Ward 2 representative.
The law firm recently released a 97-page report that said Evans used his office to benefit private clients whose hefty payments he failed to disclose.
Similar allegations against Evans are under federal investigation and forced his resignation as the chair of the regional transit authority board. The FBI searched his home in June.
Though D.C.'s independent investigation wasn't criminal in nature, attorney David Leviss said it would be incorrect to assume it found no criminal violations.
"The problem is, he was conducting constituent services for individuals who are paying him separately," Leviss said.
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Law firm partner Steve Bunnell said that Evans receiving payments from outside parties with business before the government was "ethically questionable."
According to their investigation, Evans was paid at least $400,000 from prohibited sources.
The majority of council members have already called on Evans to resign. He said he will not.
Activists ahead of the hearing turned in nearly 6,000 signatures as part of an effort to recall Evans from the council.
