Gray knew of ‘shadow campaign,’ Thompson prosecutors say; mayor says, ‘These are lies’ [DC]

Source: Washington Post

Mayor Vincent C. Gray knew about the illegal “shadow” campaign that helped get him elected in 2010, and personally asked a D.C. businessman for help funding the operation, federal prosecutors said Monday.

At a court hearing, prosecutors alleged for the first time that Gray (D) understood that he had to keep the illegal campaign a secret. In fact, Gray and the businessman, Jeffrey E. Thompson, agreed that the candidate would refer to Thompson as “Uncle Earl” to keep the scheme hidden, prosecutors said.

“Gray agreed to keep Mr. Thompson’s support secret,” Asst. U.S. Attorney Michael Atkinson said at the hearing.

The new details were revealed at a hearing at which Thompson was expected to plead guilty to funneling more than $2 million in illegal contributions to federal and local political campaigns, including Gray’s 2010 bid to oust then incumbent Adrian Fenty.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/jeffrey-thompson-alleged-shadow-campaign-funder-is-charged-in-federal-court/2014/03/10/7bf6ca14-99a8-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html