Orange Admits Money Orders "Suspicious and Questionable"

At Large City Council Member Vincent Orange has admitted that campaign contributions linked to a city contractor currently under federal investigation are "suspicious and questionable." Orange's ties to Jeffrey E. Thompson have been under the spotlight since federal agents raided Thompson's home and office on March 2. Several of Orange's campaign contributions linked to Thompson were in the form of money orders. Now, Orange's admission strengthens suspicions that the money orders -- many for the maximum donation of $1,000 -- were utilized in order to circumvent DC's contribution limits.

Thompson is the owner of Chartered Health Plan, the city’s single-largest contractor. He has donated to a number of DC politicians including every current Council member other than Tommy Wells. In addition, he contributed to the campaigns of both former Mayor Adrian Fenty and current Mayor Vincent Gray. However, Orange has been the single-biggest recipient of funds linked to Thompson. In turn, Orange was the deciding vote to award Thompson a $10.2 million settlement, providing a casebook example of "pay-for-play" politics.

Orange told the Washington Post that he met with Thompson and asked him to assist with fundraising efforts. Thompson dropped off the "package" on March 10th, the day of a campaign fundraising report deadline. A number of the suspicious money orders were dated March 10th. According to the Washington City Paper's Alan Suderman, the handwriting on several of the money orders appears to be the same.

In his successful 2011 special election campaign for the At Large seat on the Council he now holds, Orange vastly out-raised his opponents. Orange raised $191,000, and according to the Washington Post, "about half of that haul was raised from people with ties to Thompson." At that time, Thompson was in a billing dispute with the City. The Gray administration proposed a settlement which met strong Council opposition, particularly from At Large Council Member David Catania. When the issue came to a vote, Orange provided the deciding vote in favor of Thompson.

On the campaign trail, Orange often touts his credentials as an accountant and lawyer. Moreover, having run for a number of offices in DC, including Council Member, Mayor, Council Chairman, and At Large Council Member, Orange is an experienced fundraiser who is knowledgable regarding campaign finance laws. By Orange's own admission, the city's largest contractor handed Orange a stack of money orders -- many purchased on the same day and filled out in the same handwriting. Now, Orange is reacting like Captain Renault in Casablanca and is shocked to find out that there is gambling going on at Rick's. This seems a bit hard to believe, to say the least.