Former District of Columbia City Councilman Harry L. Thomas, Jr. was sentenced to 38 months in the federal clink for one count of theft and filing a false federal tax return.
Somebody in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, needs to stand up and use Coeur d’Alene rationalizations to defend Harry Thomas’s conduct, and by golly, I’m going to do it! Are you ready?
He did it for the children! Look at all the good he was doing for them before he finally got caught stealing the money that was supposed to go to help them!
That’s right. This humble public official slaving in our nation’s capital was besieged by those evil federales who descended upon him at the height of his good-deed-doing and arrested him for using
…more than $350,000 in taxpayers’ money that was earmarked for the arts, youth recreation, and summer programs for his own personal benefit, including to pay for vehicles, clothing, and trips.
All he did was
… steer a total $353,500 from a non-profit public-private partnership that received funding from the District government. Thomas directed the money to two entities that he controlled, and he then used it for his own purposes.
Among other things, money that was meant to benefit the District’s residents was spent by Thomas to purchase a $69,149 Audi luxury sport utility vehicle, the $23,245 Victory motorcycle, expensive clothing, restaurant meals, and luxury vacations. Thomas also used the money to cover his expenses in helping to arrange entertainment for a 2009 inaugural ball.
And then the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ronald C. Machen, Jr. had the temerity to heap scorn on our conscientious public servant Harry Thomas by saying
Harry Thomas, Jr. was driven by greed to steal from the very children he claimed to champion. He fostered a public persona as an advocate for underprivileged kids at the same time he was funneling tax dollars set aside for youth programs to his own bank accounts.
Not to be outdone by some dorky US Attorney, Ronald T. Hosko, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, huffed
Money intended to improve the lives of District youth was instead illegally used by Mr. Thomas to improve his own life. Councilman Thomas’s greed damaged the integrity of our government and disrespected the community that elected him. Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder to government officials that corruption will not be overlooked or downplayed.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said
Mr. Thomas used his position as a member of the D.C. Council to steer taxpayer funds to organizations he controlled, and for his personal benefit. He pleaded guilty to this brazen abuse of trust earlier this year, and now, appropriately, he will serve time in prison. Holding public officials accountable for their conduct is one of the Justice Department’s most important missions; and, as this ongoing investigation shows, when we see wrongdoing at any level of government, we will pursue it diligently.
Have these federal suit-wearers no shame? How dare they use federal resources to go after some poor corrupt city councilman who was, after all, entitled … yes, entitled I say! … to skim a little (okay, a lot) of the public’s money because of all the good he was doing for him and his cronies.
So I hereby make this offer to the formerly-honorable Harry L. Thomas, Jr.: After you have served your 38-month sentence at Club Fed, and of course with the permission of your parole officer, we invite you to come to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and run for a position on our city council. You’ll feel right at home here, and you will never be subjected to a federal investigation or prosecution by the US Attorney for the District of Idaho.
I’ll bet Harry has VISION!
But, think of the possibilities.
But, think of the possibilities.
But, think of the possibilities.
(Credit John Austin)
One man one goal one mission,
One heart one soul just one solution,
One flash of light yeah one god one vision
No wrong no right,
I’m gonna tell you there’s no black and no white,
No blood no stain,
All we need is one world wide vision
(Credit Queen… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUsOR5rWH8I)
Comment by Pariah — May 5, 2012 @ 7:42 am
……prosecution by the US Attorney for the District of Idaho…..or the local county prosecutor.
Comment by Ancientemplar — May 5, 2012 @ 7:44 am
Ronald T. Hosko, Special Agent–“damaged the integrity of our government and disrespected the community that elected him.” Has he been following the gang of 4? “federal investigation or prosecution by the US Attorney for the District of Idaho.” Now that is an oxymoron! Are you implying that there is a US Attorney in Idaho? Oh, thats right, I just remembered, McHugh used to be the politically appointed local assistant U.S. Attorney in Cda. Now I remember. He just took his penetrating investigation abilities and moved them to the county prosecutor’s office. We should all be so very thankful. An analogy to Harry L. Thomas, Jr.??? Seriously, don’t you realize that the gang of 4 is doing ‘it’ for the city…the city resident’s just don’t realize it. They just don’t have the ‘vision’. Man, I need to start drinking coffee before I check out this blog.
Comment by up river — May 5, 2012 @ 7:48 am
up river,
Yes, there is a US Attorney for the District of Idaho. Her name is Wendy Jo Olson, and by golly, she’s committed to stomping out cedar poaching wherever the pine tree police find it.
You evidently noticed that the press release linked in my post acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Fraud and Public Corruption Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. If you look at the Criminal Division of the Idaho US Attorney’s website, you’ll see a conspicuous absence of any reference to “public corruption” prosecutions. Fortunately, however, she has coordinated the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council to help control all that terrorism along the Selway and Lochsa.
Comment by Bill — May 5, 2012 @ 7:58 am
He’d fit right in. Besides you know Bloem and crew would try some way to milk extra Federal funds for having a minority on the board.
RECALL CDA
Comment by dinosaurman — May 5, 2012 @ 9:35 am
On another note. I was hounded at the HBO board by their esteemed dictator DFO, as well as Jennifer Drake and Sarah Meyers, because I live in Hayden and I support the Recall. They told me I needed to stay outta CDA politics, it was none of my concerns. I checked my Hayden PO Box yesterday, and low and behold there was a letter addressed to “Registered Voter”, from Stop the Recall. They only want non-CDA residents involved if they oppose the recall. What hypocrisy, but I’m not surprised. We’re supposed to ignore the little man (or woman in the case of Bloem) behind the curtain, pulling the levers and pushing buttons.
Comment by dinosaurman — May 5, 2012 @ 9:40 am
dinosaurman,
I can’t speak for the Recall CdA team, but my experience there has been that everyone walking through the door has been welcomed, regardless of where they are from. I think Recall CdA recognizes that what the City of Coeur d’Alene does has an effect on surrounding areas, so the views of people in those areas are no less valid than anyone else’s. The City should welcome and in fact encourage people from outside Coeur d’Alene to express their views and suggestions openly so that the City doesn’t inadvertently and avoidably do something which could be harmful to folks who don’t live here.
By law the official petitions can only be signed by registered voters eligible to vote in the Coeur d’Alene City elections, but it’s interesting and gratifying to see the number of people from elsewhere who stop in to express their support.
Comment by Bill — May 5, 2012 @ 9:46 am
Thanks for the kind words Bill, I agree 100% with you. I just find it ironic the people that started the Decline to sign nonsense told me to be quiet, but then they send a mailer to my PO box with their ‘facts’ asking for support. The crazy tales the anti-recallers spin.
Comment by dinosaurman — May 5, 2012 @ 10:17 am