Peter Nickles: Told Ya So!
No one likes a sore winner. On the other hand, no one likes to be told that their investigation of a crooked councilmember is politically motivated, only to have that crooked pol plead guilty to two federal felonies.
So, with that in mind, we called Peter Nickles, the former D.C. attorney general who began investigating Harry Thomas Jr.'s dubious nonprofit late in the Adrian Fenty administration, to ask for his thoughts now that Thomas has copped to his crimes and resigned.
Would the famously blunt Nickles echo those other D.C. politicians whose Thomas-related statements included thoughts consoling the ex-councilmember's family? Of course not.
"I was thinking as I read the story that if, in a newspaper column, one recited just 50 percent of the times he said he knew nothing about it, he committed no wrong, he was faithful to his community, you would have two or three finely printed pages of news," Nickles began.
"Keep in mind that when we started this, he said Team Thomas was dormant. He said he’d provide all info. We had to get a subpoena. The day it was due, he held a press conference and showed video of him playing with kids and said he had gone to Atlanta and Las Vegas to buy baseball equipment for them....He stalled it all out in an effort to extend it beyond my term. I still do not know if he produced everything."
Nickles—who said he believes current D.C. Attorney General Irv Nathan has done a good job—added that he hadn't liked the initial settlement between Thomas and the city, which called on Thomas to repay $300,000 of city money meant for the nonprofit but used for purposes that ranged from Thomas' Audi SUV to a meal at Hooters. "I was critical of the settlement because he did not admit to any wrongdoing, and I did not know how he would pay for it," he said. "He still hasn't." (Thomas missed a deadline Tuesday to make a $50,000 payment to the city.)
Nickles also used the occasion to blast some of his old nemeses in D.C. politics. "There’s a long history with this guy," he said. "I’m afraid that these same kinds of transgressions, the culture of the council, is still present."
Nickles said his biggest regret was "not being tougher on the council" when he was in office. In the investigation's early days, Thomas "claimed this was all a political stunt and this was retribution for him, Thomas, going after [Fenty]." Thomas wasn't the only one who'd leveled that sort of charge. "I was called to resign by, among others, Mayor Gray, because among other things it was alleged that I was using the office politically," Nickles said.
In contrast, only three councilmembers—and not the mayor—called for Thomas' head after his settlement deal last summer. "Keep in mind that there was always one political figure who was always at Vince Gray's side during the campaign, and that was Harry Thomas. And until this all became clear, [Gray] never asked for Harry Thomas to resign."
For the record, though, Nickles said he was not surprised by the outcome. "You’ve gotta hang in there because these guys can wait you out," he said. "There was a lot of effort to keep this quiet and just to bully your way through...I knew when I left that the amount of evidence we had accumulated would not allow any attorney general to let the matter drop."
"I hope that people realize that what these guys are doing not only has an impact, not just on the culture of the city and the government, but an impact on real people," he added.
So there.
Photo by Darrow Montgomery
1:10 pm
The best thing to come out of Nickles' appointment as the Attorney General. It is no longer an appointment position of the Executive. The people of the District can directly hire and fire the next Attorney General. He he served as Fenty's watchdog and cover as opposed to the defender of the people of the District of Columbia.
1:17 pm
Like him or hate him, Nickles is absolutely right on this one. Had Nickles not aggressively fought, and won, two motions to enforce Thomas subpoenas in the weeks before Gray became mayor, Thomas likely never would have been caught and prosecuted. Contrast Gray's public statements calling for Nickles' resignation with his year long silence regarding Thomas.
1:18 pm
Now, Peter can say "wooo-saaaahh!"
1:18 pm
Even the blind squirrel...
1:20 pm
THIS CLOWN CONTINUES TO MAKE ME LAUGH!
ISNT THIS THE SAME BAMMA WHO SETTLED WITH BANNEKER VENTURES AFTER COUNCIL DIDNT WANT TO. WHY??? BECAUSE HE DIDNT WANT THE WORST ADMINISTRATION IN DC MAYORAL HISTORY TO GET EXPOSED FOR THE THEIVES AND FRAUDS THEY ARE!
1:21 pm
Nickels is a complete dick. However, he was right here, as TH points out.
And, he's right about this: "Keep in mind that there was always one political figure who was always at Vince Gray's side during the campaign, and that was Harry Thomas. And until this all became clear, [Gray] never asked for Harry Thomas to resign."
Hey Pete, have I got a picture for you...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/afge/4684697885/
1:25 pm
TH, Peter Nickles, DID operate in excess of the scope of his position as the Attorney General. He positioned himself as the General Counsel of the Mayor, a position that already exists, and he DID target his opponents. That he Fenty's opponents gave him fodder for investigation, is another matter altogether.
I didn't hate the guy, I'm just glad he is gone, Irving and Nickles predecessor, Spagnoletti, operate more as an attorney general should, effective, politically low key,and competent.If either of THEM ran for for the position after his term is over, I'd vote for them.
When I saw Peter Nickles running CapStat meetings I was done.
1:54 pm
LastStop- don't disagree with you much. And Fenty should've reined him in, but didn't.
2:08 pm
Nickles wanted the recreation $$$ to go to DPR so Fenty's coaching pals could feather their nests, rather than to the Children's Youth Investment Trust where Thomas cleaned out the safe.
2:25 pm
A lot of the issues with Nickles were because Fenty didn't rein him in - people don't understand that lawyers are just another tool to be used. Our society holds them in such high regard (like doctors). Some deserve the acclaim, quite a few just get in the way unnecessarily.
2:53 pm
Credit where credit is due.
3:16 pm
Had Nickles not aggressively fought, and won, two motions to enforce Thomas subpoenas in the weeks before Gray became mayor, Thomas likely never would have been caught and prosecuted. Contrast Gray's public statements calling for Nickles' resignation with his year long silence regarding Thomas.
Two things:
1)Based on what you just wrote, the mayor was the person responsible for what the city's AG did/n't do. The AG had no autonomy. You've simply legitimized the attacks hurled by his detractors when we said that Nickles acted as the mayors personal attorney rather than the citys.
2)The mayor can not hire nor fire a councilmember. So even if he called for his resignation, Thomas would not be forced to leave. OTOH, a mayor can/could fire the AG.
3:22 pm
@SEis4ME
Not any more. The people now have the power to hire and fire our chief legal representative in this city. There is a much needed separation between them and the executive, who, themselves may become the subject of a criminal probe.
What was most sad, there were Fenty supporters who rejected the idea of citizens voting for their Attorney General because Fenty said he didn't like the idea. Talk about a complete inability to think independently. Of course a Mayor, particulary THAT Mayor, would prefer to be able to hamstring the Attorney General.
5:18 pm
Harry Jaffe: "the boy"?
Peter Nickles: "real people"?
It seems they just can't help themselves.
Will "the boy" be sent to a juvenile facility?
Are not all DC citizens "real people?"
6:52 pm
@ FredianSlips?
I couldn't believe it either, Harry Jaffe wrote that Thomas is an arrogant boy!
I guess since Blacks aren't in the majority anymore and he's comfortable, it's OK for Jaffe to revert back to the castigation of Black men by calling them boys.
10:32 pm
@ Michael Schaffer - Did you ask Peter Nickles about the Lottery contract and the improper actions taken by Gandhi and members of the council? Does he regret not pursuing these allegations more vigorously? If HTJ and others were willing to break the law for hundreds of thousands of dollars, how motivated were they to target the millions of dollars involved in the lottery contract?
To date, no one, including the Office of Inspector General, has pursued the illegal acts that transpired in the lottery procurements in 2008 and 2009. Follow the money...
10:51 pm
Agree with JC. If you read these comments, Schaffer, I'm here to help you out. Btw, has Gray been deposed yet?
11:09 pm
Who gives a fark what that Northern Virginia, carpetbagging little weasel thinks?
4:12 pm
Just SHUT UP Nickles! You were worst AG this city has ever had. The day your jurassic, cracker ass croak will be the best day in DC and Northern Virginia. You gave a pass to who you wanted to give a pass to but you know damn well that Banneker Ventures and all them other monkeys on Fenty's team was stealing the city blind. How about Allen Lew's budget problems? A chinese SOB that cannot count, wtf? Sinclar Skinner, an engineer, that cannot pass the exam to get his engineer license but can get engineer contracts with the City, wtf?...oh Lord, i can go on forever....
....Uncle Ruckus is tired
2:47 pm
Truth Hurts
You are 1 dumb SOB, you read like SKIP BAYLESS round' these parts!
8:13 pm
I'm sorry I would gloat a bit if I was part of Fenty's team. Gray and co make them look like the dream team. Let's see... this issue here, brought down huge corruption.
Klein is doing big things as DOT head for Chicago.
And Gray has done what exactly so far?
9:09 am
@ h street landlord-Gloat, Really? Over what? Why don't you moved to Chicago so you can be reunited with Klein and fulfill your man crush? Geez!