Following Special Counsel reports of corruption, including misuse of government funds, D.C. Councilmember and former Mayor Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) could face condemnation from the D.C. Council and removal from office. The report was completed by the Special Counsel, attorney Robert S. Bennett, after months of investigation.

A report released Feb. 16 charged Barry with misusing government funds to secure a personal services contract for former girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt and with providing some of his close friends and supporters with benefits through earmark grants he sponsored.

Between 2005 and 2009, Barry arranged 22 personal services contracts, which is almost 40 percent of the total personal services contracts and about 65 percent of the total amount spent on the contracts by the D.C. Council, according to the report. The Special Council concluded that the personal services contract awarded to Watts-Brighthaupt broke D.C. law.

“[It] was not in accordance with District laws or Council rules, policies and procedures,” the report said. “[C]ertain personal services contracts awarded by Mr. Barry to Brenda Richardson [a friend of Barry] were for various citizen-service programs and, therefore, were an inappropriate use of Council funds.”

Barry sponsored 37 of a total 154 grants, the highest number of earmark grants by a D.C. councilmember, according to the report. He also co-sponsored four more earmark grants. In total, he sponsored earmarks worth $8,475,000.

In the report, the Special Counsel recommended the Council to condemn Barry’s actions and consider removing him from office.

When reached for comment, Joyce Clements-Smith, Barry’s chief of staff, said that Barry’s office was still reviewing the report and thus unable to comment. “