Barry offers apology, but says there was no crime in awarding contract to girlfriend
D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D) apologized Tuesday for causing "great embarrassment to the city and City Council" for improperly awarding a city contract to a woman he had been dating.
Barry's apology comes a week after lawyer Robert S. Bennett concluded in a report to the council that the former mayor might have violated numerous laws when he hired Donna Watts-Brighthaupt. The report said Barry personally benefited from the $15,000 contract he obtained for Watts-Brighthaupt in 2008.
Bennett, who was retained by the council last year to conduct an investigation into earmarks, recommended that the council submit the matter to the U.S. Attorney's Office for possible criminal prosecution.
Speaking Tuesday in the vestibule of Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast, Barry denied he did anything illegal but said he was sorry for his "very, very poor judgment."
By
Christopher Dean Hopkins
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February 23, 2010; 3:42 PM ET
Categories:
D.C. Council
,
Marion Barry
,
Tim Craig
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