{"id":121435,"date":"2019-12-03T19:03:07","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T03:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=121435"},"modified":"2019-12-04T10:13:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-04T18:13:51","slug":"dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"DC Council Committee Recommends Expelling Evans, Who Pushed Sole-Source Sports Betting Contract, Over Numerous Ethics Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington, DC Council on Tuesday took the first formal step toward removing Councilman Jack Evans from Washington\u2019s local legislative body. An ad hoc committee made up of the remaining 12 council members voted unanimously that Evans, who has been on the council for 28 years, should be expelled for committing numerous ethics violations.<\/p>\n

\"\"
DC Councilwoman Elissa Silverman talks during the ad hoc committee that voting for Councilman Jack Evans’ ouster is about regaining the public’s trust.(Image: DC Council)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An independent investigation<\/a> examined the personal business relationships Evans had with companies that hold contracts to do business with Washington\u2019s city government. That report, which looked over a five-year period, noted several instances where Evans actions as a lawmaker benefited his clients.<\/p>\n

Councilwoman Elissa Silverman (Independent-At-Large) said the vote recommending Evans\u2019s ouster was one to restore the public\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about all of us,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is about that our residents feel confident about the decisions we make are because we think it\u2019s the right decision, not because there\u2019s money behind that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The committee will now write up its findings and submit that before the full Council, including Evans. To remove him, 11 of the 13 must vote to do so. The committee had the opportunity to expand the investigation, but the members decided there was enough before them to initiate action.<\/p>\n

\n

The council\u2019s move to oust Evans is just the latest fight he\u2019s facing. The Democrat representing DC\u2019s 2nd Ward is facing a recall petition in his district, as well as a federal investigation into his political and business dealings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Messages to the attorneys representing Evans were not returned on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

It’s uncertain when the Council may take up the vote, as its next scheduled meeting is not until next year. However, they may hold a special meeting before then to act.<\/p>\n

Sports Betting Contract Proponent<\/h2>\n

Evans was the primary supporter of the move to issue a $215 million sole-source contract to Intralot to manage the DC Lottery\u2019s sports betting operations. Intralot already had a contract to run other games for the Lottery.<\/p>\n

However, critics raised questions about Evans\u2019s ties to subcontractors Intralot selected for the sports betting operation. They asked Evans to recuse himself from voting on the contract. He declined, and it passed 7-5.<\/p>\n

That sports betting contract<\/a> now faces a challenge in a DC courtroom.<\/p>\n

Evans Opted Out of Meeting<\/h2>\n

Evans had a chance to sit before the ad hoc committee Tuesday, present his case, and answer any questions they had. However, last week, he sent his colleagues a letter saying he felt no need to duplicate the answers he had given to investigators who prepared the report that the committee had used to recommend his removal.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Robert C. White Jr. (At-Large) took issue with Evans\u2019s no-show. He said the council has been criticized for going out of its way to give Evans a chance to respond to the allegations. But every time the Council offers Evans an opportunity, his actions have made the council look foolish.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Evans\u2019s decision not to appear reinforces that he fails to understand the severity of his actions and how they affect the residents of the District of Columbia and this council,\u201d White said. \u201cIt also illustrates a lack of respect for his colleagues.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In his memo, Evans said he regretted what he has put his colleagues through. He also noted that he has closed the private law office he started in July 2016 after working for other law firms. His interpretation of the ethics rules was that his private business dealings with government contractors was separate from his work on the Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn retrospect, it was not a good idea to set up my own business,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Washington, DC Council on Tuesday took the first formal step toward removing Councilman Jack Evans from Washington\u2019s local legislative body. An ad hoc committee made up of the remaining 12 council members voted unanimously that Evans, who has been on the council for 28 years, should be expelled for committing numerous ethics violations. An […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":121436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDC Council Committee Recommends Expelling Evans Over Ethics Issues<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 12-0 committee vote is the first step in the removal process. 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To expel Evans, 11 of the 13 Council members must vote for it at a Council meeting.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Casino.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Casino.OrgNews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-12-04T03:03:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-12-04T18:13:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/2019-12-03.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1886\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1050\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Steve Bittenbender\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Steve Bittenbender\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/\",\"name\":\"DC Council Committee Recommends Expelling Evans Over Ethics Issues\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/dc-council-committee-recommends-expelling-evans-over-ethics-issues\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/2019-12-03.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-04T03:03:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-12-04T18:13:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/eb30e765d812fc9b38b333f8d13068b2\"},\"description\":\"The 12-0 committee vote is the first step in the removal process. 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