(MintPress) – District of Columbia Council chairman, and one of the most influential politicians in the region, Kwame Brown, resigned Wednesday after he was charged with bank fraud for allegedly providing falsified documents indicating a higher income on loan documents in order to obtain larger loans than he was qualified for.
An investigation concluded that the falsified records were for a house loan as well as to buy a $50,000 powerboat, according to a three-page charging document filed by prosecutors.
In another financial incident, Brown asked city officials to provide him with a $1,900-a-month Lincoln Navigator, fully equipped with a DVD player, power moon roof and aluminum wheels.
While Brown has been touted for being one of the most influential local politicians in the region, he enjoyed the luxuries in life while his finances were not in order. Three credit card companies sued him for not paying his bills and his debt came close to $1 million.
“Because of the great respect that I have for the institution that is the Council of the District of Columbia, I have chosen the only honorable course in submitting my resignation at this time,” Brown wrote in a letter to the council. “I simply will not hold this body, and its important work hostage to the resolution of my personal indiscretions.”
After Brown, 41, resigned Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors tacked on a campaign finance misdemeanor charge on Thursday, augmenting Brown’s financial and legal woes.
According to the misdemeanor, Brown authorized one of his relatives to make withdrawals from a bank account on behalf of Brown’s campaign in 2008. Reports state that the relative, who was not mentioned by name, used money from the campaign in September 2009 to make a single purchase that exceeded $50 in one transaction.
While the relative’s name went unannounced, speculation has risen that it could be Brown’s brother, Che Brown.
While the charges against him carry a sentence of up to 30 years, there is little doubt that if found guilty, Brown will not spend nearly as much time behind bars.
The charges come shortly after other political figures in Washington D.C. have come under scrutiny for their finances.
In January, Harry Thomas Jr., another councilmember, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $350,000 of government funds that were intended for youth sport and art programs. Thomas was sentenced to 38 months in prison, which marked the most severe punishment ever given to a local elected official in Washington D.C.
In May, two former campaign staff members of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray – Howard Brooks and Thomas Gore – pleaded guilty to federal offenses relating to payments made to another mayoral candidate using campaign funds for Gray during the 2010 mayoral election.
It is unclear whether Gray knew about the financial transactions or not, and he has not been implicated in any charges.
With Brown’s immediate resignation, District councilmembers have been left with the task of finding a new chairman.
Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D) is sitting as temporary chair until members can elect a new interim chairman. Members are scheduled to meet June 13 to elect the interim chairman.