Jeffrey Thompson, a well-connected D.C. businessman, was charged in federal court Monday with conspiring to violate federal and local campaign finance laws by illegally funding campaign activity for local and national candidates such as former New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray — a development that threatens to drastically alter the landscape of District politics.
Thompson was charged Monday in a criminal information, a document that is filed with a defendant’s consent and usually means a guilty plea is in the works.
Thompson, 58, who has been a political campaign contributor and fundraiser for years, was the point person for the “shadow campaign” that helped to elect Gray (D) as mayor in 2010, prosecutors said. Gray isn’t named in the charging document, but Thompson is accused of funneling $668,800 to the campaign of a D.C. mayoral candidate between May and September 2010.
Thompson also contributed to District council and mayoral candidates as well as the election efforts of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Clinton, the charging document states.
Thompson was the co-owner of one of the most successful black-owned accounting firms in the country, with work coming from the District and federal government. He also owned D.C. Chartered Health Plan, a managed-care provider for District residents that was worth $300 million annually.
Source: Washington Informer | James Wright
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