Graham “Deeply Troubled” By Charges
Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham just told a horde of reporters that he's "deeply troubled at the indictment of Teddy Loza." This afternoon brought news that Loza, Graham's chief of staff, has been indicted on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for influencing legislation on taxicab regulation.
Looking to get a jump on his side of the story, Graham described Loza, a nine-year aide, as someone "I have grown to trust and have confidence in."
In his remarks to the press, Graham noted that the 44-year-old Loza, a native of Ecuador and a permanent U.S. resident, recently informed him that he was the subject of an FBI investigation. Graham aggressively tossed aside the notion that he had any involvement with the activities of Loza and "Individual No. 1," the cash-wielding taxicab industry lobbyist in the indictment. To support his contention, Graham circulated copies of the search warrant that authorities used to raid Graham's council office today. The warrant does not seek records or files maintained by Graham himself and focuses on Loza's office.
Furthermore, Graham denied that Loza had ever lobbied him or exercised any influence whatsoever on taxi legislation. "Loza has never to my recollection spoken to me about any element of any taxicab bill I was considering. I have no reason to believe that there's any wrongdoing by any [other] member of my staff. I am very concerned about what I'm hearing and I'm going to get to the bottom of this," said Graham.
According to the indictment, Loza accepted cash from "Individual No. 1" because he said he needed it. When asked about Loza's financial situation, Graham declined comment.
File photo by Darrow Montgomery
3:12 pm
How can the Chief of Staff never have discussed a major piece of legislation with the Councilmember? Jim Graham is not being honest.
8:48 pm
Mr. Graham stop lying, you're just surprised he was caught. You probably new all along.
8:50 pm
sorry knew!!!!! Damn Fenty must be typing this for me.
9:23 pm
Gotta love DC politics. Where's Vince "one city" Gray on this? Why no media interviews?
12:54 am
Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.....its a duck!
Ted Loza didn't take a d'mp without Jim Graham's say so! Anyone at the Wilson Building can tell you that!
Ted Loza was once an engaged, sincere and earnest young man. Obviously his intimate association with the utterly corrupt has corrupted him utterly. He is a bagman.
No wonder Natwar Gandhi has been able to make a career out of looking the other way. What do we expect from a Council that allowed a 50 million dollar theft to go unpunished? I guess this begins to explain a lot about that!
1:02 am
"I have had no engagement whatsoever in any illegal or unethical behaviors," Graham said.
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Yeah, right! Jim Graham should be thoroughly investigated going back many years well into his tenure at Whitman Walker Clinic. It is long, long, long overdue. His career has been a testament to illegal and unethical behavior for 30 years.
His apartment, the srt on his walls, the furniture in his home and office...theft and graft. All the sneaky, behind the scenes, under the table, sweetheart real estate deals are more then suspect. Put the squeeze on Graham amd his estate cohorts, they'll squeal! Keep investigating!
Ted Loza is a fall guy but more importantly he is only the tip of the iceberg. I knew Loza was dirty when he quite clumsily and obviously manipulated the latino PAC endorsement for Fenty - it only took like 3 tries, in the end essentially shutting everyone else out.
Darn straight they needed to get rid of Linda Cropp and Carol Schwartz! Phil Mendelson (perhaps Mary Cheh, don't know her) is the only honest person left on that Council and they are trying to set up a Fenty butt boy to take him down!
1:39 am
Jim Graham is total sleeze. He hits up every small business owner in town who meets with him. He is the king of unethical. Wake up Ward 1!!!!!!!!!!!!
8:53 am
Jim's orange glasses go well with the everyday orange that folks wear when they're indoors for a couple of years. And that's what separates us from the lower forms of animals: our ability to accessorize!
10:15 am
He should get the same treatment everybody wanted to give Marion Barry. Channel 5 said Jim Graham met with the person alon with his chief of staff so they all knew what was to be said at the council hearing in advance since it had been PAID for in advance!
10:45 am
Mr. Graham told on himself by saying the word'recollection'. That is similar of how Ronald Reagan could not remember the details of the Iran-Contra scandal that got Ollie North busted as a cocaine dealing kingpin.