June 20, 2013

D.C. Councilman Jim Graham says he'll fight ethics board slapdown

BY: ALAN BLINDER FEBRUARY 19, 2013 | 1:04 PM
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D.C. Councilman Jim Graham said Tuesday that his lawyers are preparing to challenge a 27-page opinion from the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability that said the panel had "substantial evidence" the legislator had acted improperly.

Speaking during a legislative debate, Graham said his legal team is "about ready" to go before the D.C. Court of Appeals to appeal the ruling.

Earlier this month, the three-member panel issued an opinion that ripped Graham for offering to trade his vote on the city's $38 million lottery contract in exchange for a company dropping its bid to develop a property owned by Metro.

But the board stopped short of opening a full investigation because of constitutional concerns about whether it could sanction Graham for conduct that took place before the panel existed.

Graham's lawyers immediately complained about the board issuing a "hypothetical decision" and said they were exploring their legal options.

Prior to Graham's remarks Tuesday, he had not disclosed how he would pursue any kind of appeal.

ablinder@washingtonexaminer.com

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Alan Blinder

Staff Reporter, D.C. City Hall
The Washington Examiner

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