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FBI Raid Shines Light on Vincent Orange Campaign Contributor
Orange juice futures were the subject of the movie "Trading Places." In DC politics, Orange futures -- as in Vincent Orange -- have been paying off big. Now the FBI has raided the home and office of Orange's largest contributor. Is the Orange future market due for a crash?
In the movie "Trading Places", Randolph and Mortimer Duke attempt to make huge financial gains by purchasing orange juice futures. Similarly, over the past few years, deep-pocketed businessmen in the District of Columbia have purchased Orange futures. Vincent Orange futures, that is. While the Duke Brothers were imaginary characters in a comedy movie, those buying Vincent Orange futures are all too real, and the result is not the least bit funny.
As previously reported on this blog, local gas station monopolist Joe Mamo contributed $9,000 via companies he controls to Vincent Orange's At Large Council re-election campaign. That purchase of Orange futures paid off when Orange was the deciding vote to defeat a bill that would have lowered gas prices and ended the gas station monopoly in DC.
Another purchase of Orange futures that paid off big is now under the spotlight as a result of an FBI and IRS raid on the home and offices of Orange's largest contributor, Jeffrey Thompson. According to Washington City Paper's Loose Lips, Thompson -- directly or indirectly -- has contributed $100,000 to Orange's campaigns over the years. In return, Orange was the deciding vote to award Thompson a $10.2 million settlement.
Orange is a textbook example of the "pay-to-play" culture that has existed in the DC government. Do you want to maintain a gas station monopoly? Buy Orange futures. Are you a city contractor with a billing dispute? Buy Orange futures. Orange even stuck DC taxpayers with increased taxes in exchange for city money for an organization on whose board he sits. When Orange futures pay off -- DC taxpayers get stuck with the bill.
In last year's At Large Special Election, Vincent Orange and Sekou Biddle traded places when interim Council Member Biddle lost the seat to Orange. When Eddie Murphy traded places with Dan Aykroyd, the result was a successful comedy. In contrast, the result of the Biddle/Orange trade has been a farce. It's time to trade places again and return Sekou Biddle to the At Large Council seat on April 3.
