Worst Week in Washington: Vincent Gray

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray says he looks in the mirror every day and sees someone that he respects.

Unfortunately for him, fewer and fewer of his constituents can say the same when they look at their mayor.

That’s why, for the second time in two months, the D.C. mayor has had “Worst Week in Washington” honors bestowed (thrust?) upon him.
Vincent Gray makes an appearance at a Democrat unity gathering at Judiciary Square in 2010. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

From our Sunday column:

Three of the 12 members of the city council on Wednesday called for Gray to resign after it was revealed that supporters essentially ran a shadow campaign on his behalf during the 2010 Democratic primary race against then-Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, and did not properly report financial contributions.

Then on Thursday, The Washington Post’s Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart reported that Gray knew about unreported expenditures as far back as January — before federal law enforcement officials raided the homes and offices of consultant Jeanne Clarke Harris and businessman Jeffrey E. Thompson, who is accused of spending $650,000 on the shadow campaign.

In addition, Harris pleaded guilty Tuesday to spearheading the scheme and now faces three years in prison. She is the third person from Gray’s campaign to plead guilty.

We’ve known for a while that Gray was in trouble; now he’s fighting to keep his job.