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FBI, IRS search home of D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr.

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – FBI and IRS agents Friday searched the home of D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., who has been accused of misusing city grants and charitable donations.

Federal authorities have been investigating Thomas at least since June, when the District attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing him of spending more than $300,000 in city funds on a luxury SUV, vacations and other personal expenses.

Thomas, a Ward 5 Democrat, has agreed to pay the money back but has not admitted wrongdoing.

Agents searched Thomas’ home in Northeast and placed items in boxes. A red motorcycle with yellow racing stripes and a Chevy Tahoe were taken from the home

Meanwhile, there was no FBI activity at Thomas’ council office at the John A. Wilson Building in Northwest D.C.

The raid “puts the point that ethics reform is urgent,” says Councilmember Muriel Bowser.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray released a statement Friday afternoon about the raid.

“”I continue to support the investigation into these allegations so that justice can run its course,” Gray says. “For the sake of the District, I hope the investigation is concluded quickly.”

In July, two councilmembers called for his resignation. David A. Catania and Mary Cheh both said at the time that Thomas’ failure to admit wrongdoing made it “difficult for him to continue to effectively serve the citizens of the District.”

Thomas remained at his home during the search accompanied by his attorney, Fred Cooke. Authorities were not expected to file charges against Thomas on Friday.

“It’s not unexpected that something would happen,” D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans says. “I hope it happens quickly so we can move on.”

Thomas is not the only city official to become entangled with federal authorities or accusations of ethical lapses of late. The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics in July decided to refer allegations regarding current D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s 2008 reelection campaign to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for an investigation.

A federal grand jury also is investigating the accusations of former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown, who says D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s mayoral campaign paid him and promised him a job in return for publicly criticizing former Mayor Adrian Fenty. Gray has denied Brown was promised a job.

In June, the former chief of staff to Councilmember Jim Graham was sentenced to eight months in prison for accepting money from a taxicab industry representative seeking favorable legislation. Graham said he rejected bribe money offered as part of an FBI investigation into the scandal.

And last year, the council unanimously voted to censure Marion Barry and send his case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible criminal prosecution after the councilmember was accused of giving his former girlfriend a government contract and then accepting a kickback.

The council’s Committee on Government Operations — of which Thomas is a member — is scheduled to hold a hearing Monday related to ethics reform legislation.

“It’s sad that it has reached this point,” Graham says of the raid.

WTOP’s Mark Segraves was tweeting as the scene unfolded today. Follow along below:

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report. Follow Kristi and

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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