Ethical strife in D.C. politics

Kwame Brown is just the latest D.C. political figure to make headlines amid accusations of improprieties.

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Kwame Brown, the former D.C. Council chairman, resigned and pleaded guilty to bank fraud in June after being charged in federal court for falsifying bank records to obtain a home equity loan and boat. He was also charged and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor use of 2008 campaign funds. When he is sentenced in September, he faces a maximum of six months for the misdemeanor and up to six months under sentencing guidelines for bank fraud.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

On May 22, Thomas Gore, who ran the day-to-day finances of Mayor Vincent Gray's 2010 campaign, <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/vincent-gray-campaign-aide-thomas-gore-pleads-guilty-to-election-violations/2012/05/22/gIQAQjfSiU_story.html'>pleaded guilty</a> to three misdemeanor counts of campaign finance fraud. The charges said that he made donations to the mayoral campaign of Sulaimon Brown, who was then assailing then-Mayor Adrian Fenty on the campaign trail, and then destroyed evidence of the payments.

On May 22, Thomas Gore, who ran the day-to-day finances of Mayor Vincent Gray's 2010 campaign, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of campaign finance fraud. The charges said that he made donations to the mayoral campaign of Sulaimon Brown, who was then assailing then-Mayor Adrian Fenty on the campaign trail, and then destroyed evidence of the payments.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

On May 24, <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/howard-brooks-pleads-guilty-in-probe-of-mayor-grays-2010-campaign/2012/05/24/gJQArf9snU_story.html'>Howard L. Brooks</a>, a campaign aide to Mayor Vincent C. Gray, pleaded guilty to making false statements. Brooks told a federal judge he was 'instructed'' to pay fringe mayor candidate Sulaimon Brown to stay in the 2010 race. Brooks said he gave $2,800 in money orders to Brown, who has said he accepted money and a job offer to harangue the incumbent, Adrian M. Fenty, in campaign forums.

On May 24, Howard L. Brooks, a campaign aide to Mayor Vincent C. Gray, pleaded guilty to making false statements. Brooks told a federal judge he was "instructed'' to pay fringe mayor candidate Sulaimon Brown to stay in the 2010 race. Brooks said he gave $2,800 in money orders to Brown, who has said he accepted money and a job offer to harangue the incumbent, Adrian M. Fenty, in campaign forums.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-councilmans-home-searched/2011/12/02/gIQAnt8KPO_gallery.html'>Harry Thomas Jr.</a>, former Ward 5 D.C. Council member, leaves the courthouse in May after <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/harry-thomas-former-dc-council-member-is-sentenced-to-more-than-three-years-in-prison/2012/05/03/gIQA7X7KzT_story.html'>being sentenced</a> to three years in prison for stealing more than $350,000 in earmarked city funds.

Harry Thomas Jr., former Ward 5 D.C. Council member, leaves the courthouse in May after being sentenced to three years in prison for stealing more than $350,000 in earmarked city funds.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

A Washington Post review of Office of Campaign Finance records show that Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), right, shown with council member Vincent B. Orange (D-At Large), has spent $135,897 for professional sports tickets during the past decade using money from his constituent services fund.

Dudley M. Brooks / The Washington Post

Jim Graham’s (D-Ward 1) former chief of staff, Ted G. Loza, was sentenced to eight months in prison after he admitted he received $1,500 from an FBI informant.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011306648.html'>Michael Brown</a>, the D.C. Council’s chief advocate for raising taxes on the city's wealthiest residents, had his argument undercut when it was revealed that he owed back property taxes. When asked about notices of foreclosure sale that were issued for his house, Brown (I-At Large) said 'I know nothing about any of them.'

Michael Brown, the D.C. Council’s chief advocate for raising taxes on the city's wealthiest residents, had his argument undercut when it was revealed that he owed back property taxes. When asked about notices of foreclosure sale that were issued for his house, Brown (I-At Large) said "I know nothing about any of them."

Michael Temchine / For The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Statues on display on the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in The Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photos of the day

Chelsea Flower Show, face transplant in Poland, Oklahoma residents cope with tornado aftermath and more.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Ben Stiller, Chris Harrison, and Mike Rosenstein aceept the Webby Award for 'Burning Love' at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

Eye on entertainment

Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Emma Stone, Chainz, Tyrese Gibson, Susan Boyle and more.

This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

FILE - In this undated publicity file photo, members of the Doors, from left, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, pose for a portrait. Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died at 74. Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died Monday, May 20, 2013, at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family. (AP Photo, File)

Ray Manzarek, founding member of the Doors, dies at 74

Manzarek co-founded the Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California. The band went on to become one of the most successful rock-and-roll...

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
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Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

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