Skinner to stay mum on Fenty political ties, other topics in D.C. council contracts probe

Expect Sinclair Skinner, the highly anticipated witness in the D.C. Council's special probe into parks contracts, to answer few questions Thursday.

After months of trying to get Skinner to testify, the council finally got a court order enforcing a subpoena for him to appear.

But Skinner's testimony will be limited, according to a March 31 letter that A. Scott Bolden, Skinner's attorney, wrote to Robert P. Trout, the attorney retained by the council to lead its investigation.

Bolden lists seven different lines of questioning to which Skinner will not answer. They include his "political activities (including political dealings with Mayor Fenty)"; "Fire truck to Sousa, Dominican Republic;" and "other businesses owned/operated by Mr. Skinner."

Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) said Bolden and Skinner should use Thursday to answer as many questions as possible. "I would say that's a very foolish tactic," he said. "This is designed to bring closure to some very questionable issues."