Thompson charged with conspiracy

Jeffrey Thompson, 58, a District businessman, has been charged with conspiring to violate federal and local campaign finance laws by funding off-the-books campaign activity for candidates including the District’s Mayor Vincent Gray, Hillary Clinton, and seven other candidates running for local offices in the District. Thompson was charged in  a charging document that can only be filed with the defendant’s consent, typically signaling a guilty plea. Documents show that Thompson illegally funded campaign activity for Clinton and Gray, while the “shadow campaigns” were valued at more than $2 million.

Thompson had been long suspected of giving money to Gray’s 2010 campaign and has also been charged for spending money towards Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. Gray has denied all wrongdoing, although he hasn’t answered any specific questions about his knowledge of Thompson’s activities. Thompson founded an African-American-owned accounting firm that has received millions of dollars in local and federal government contracts and he is also the sole owner of D.C. Chartered Health Plan, a managed-care provider for District residents. The managed-care firm went bankrupt during the investigation and Thompson also left his accounting firm.

Prosecutors were looking for links between Thompson’s support for Gray and a settlement that his health care company received after Gray took office. Administration officials have denied any wrongdoing related to the settlement, which was approved by the D.C. Council.