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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Barry, Staff Critical Of Ex-Girlfriend's Work", ""Pershing Park: Another Piece Of Evidence Goes Missing; One Cop Speaks Out," "Complaint No. 09-109484: Fenty's Traffic Accident Report," [...]

The Washington Post has uncovered more of the twists and turns from the love-hate triangle between Councilmember Marion Barry, his ex-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, and her ex-husband Delonta Brighthaupt. The newspaper has obtained e-mails from Barry and his staff that were critical of Watts-Brighthaupt's contract work. The Post writes:
"Barry's complaints included Watts-Brighthaupt's spelling, grammar, tendency to [...]

Yesterday, news broke that Federal lawmen are looking into the allegations surrounding Councilmember Marion Barry's contracts with former girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt as well as his guardianship over half a dozen nonprofits. While two of his associates—Brenda Richardson and Jackie Ward—have referred comment to their attorneys, we expected Barry to do something more media friendly.
In the [...]

For the last few weeks, we've published stories on Councilmember Marion Barry's zany relationship with ex-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt and his pressuring her to sign another problematic contract. We've also written two stories on the issues surrounding the nonprofits run out of his offices and staffed with ex-campaign workers. These stories did not seem to impact [...]

On June 30, Councilmember Marion Barry used his office to bounce his on-again-off-again girlfriend's ex-husband from the Wilson Building. At the time, he claimed that Delonta Brighthaupt had threatened him on the phone and in person.
Barry never got into detail with council staff. But it was enough for Brighthaupt to get barred that night from [...]

You can call Councilmember Marion Barry a lot of things:  Civil Rights Leader, Mayor-for-Life, Addict, Male Slut. You can now add Incurable Optimist to the list. In his rocky relationship with Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, he endured one rejection after another. And the man kept coming back.
A Hotel spat in Denver where he threw her out of [...]

A few hours ago, The Washington Post finally got around to addressing the latest matters concerning Councilmember Marion Barry's questionable use of contracts. Barry's camp has repeatedly stated that the hiring of his girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt was not illegal. This time, the Post gets Barry to brag that he'd do it all over again. Or [...]

Brenda Richardson, a key staffer in Councilmember Marion Barry's constituent services office, has hired prominent D.C. attorney A. Scott Bolden. Richardson, who is listed on Barry's Web site as his Deputy Chief of Staff for Community Engagement, was identified in a recent Washington City Paper story as a key player in Barry's efforts to control [...]

Washington City Paper is reporting tonight that Councilmember Marion Barry has funneled nearly $1 million dollars in city funds to six nonprofits under the apparent control of his own staff. Barry first secured funding for the groups in June 2008. But here's the catch: This was months before the groups existed, city records show.
Furthermore, incorporation [...]

According to three sources familiar with the closed-door meeting to discuss the ramifications of Marion Barry's July 4 arrest, the councilmember apologized to his colleagues. He even made sure to apologize to Councilmember Jim Graham, who was late to the meeting.
One councilmember says that Barry confessed his love for the District and said that he [...]

Councilmember David Catania just released this statement to the press on the Barry saga:
"The Council met this afternoon to discuss how to proceed in the wake of the latest allegations of impropriety on the part of Mr. Barry.  We did not discuss the possibility of censure or other sanctions at this time, not because those [...]

Donna Watts-Brighthaupt was presented with a sweet new deal from Councilmember Marion Barry just days before the July 4 incident. She rejected the offer, writing in an e-mail that she didn't want to sell her soul. We have the e-mails and the full narrative of her contract work.
*photo by Darrow Montgomery.

Chenille Spencer, once a regular ladyfriend of Marion Barry's—and a regular with him at Player's Lounge—described her connection to Barry in 2006 as "loyal." She remains so. In a phone call to Washington City Paper to "speak on the the police and the way Mr. Barry was treated," Spencer defended her former flame and current [...]

Last night, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it would not pursue the stalking charge against Councilmember Marion Barry. The charge stems from a July 4 incident in which Barry allegedly sought out ex-girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt in Anacostia Park. Watts-Brighthaupt was with her ex-husband Delonta Brighthaupt at the time Barry was pulled over by U.S. [...]

At a little after 9 p.m., Councilmember Marion Barry spokesperson Natalie Williams began another hastily scheduled press conference in front of the Wilson Building by thanking the U.S. Attorney's Office for dropping the stalking charge against the councilmember. Prosecutors had announced three hours earlier that they would not press on with the stalking case. "Our [...]