Brown told The Washington Post he will pick up nominating petitions Wednesday morning to begin collecting the 2,000 signatures required to make it onto the ballot, with a plan to pitch voters on a more aggressive, proactive approach to defending the city on Capitol Hill. That includes protection from both federal lawmakers seeking to overturn local policies as well as neighboring states who want to poach the city’s large and small businesses, he said.
“We are under attack,” Brown, 57, said in an interview. “Not just on Capitol Hill, but from the surrounding jurisdictions outwardly trying to take our businesses. And we have to put up a fight.”
In addition to Norton, who has held the seat since 1991 and typically sails to reelection, D.C. congressional delegate candidates Greg Maye, LaQueda Tate, Kymone Freeman, Rico Dancy and Kelly Mikel Williams have also picked up nominating petitions for the Democratic primary, according to data from the city’s Board of Elections. D.C. does not elect senators or a voting member of Congress because it is not a state, but its delegate fulfills other duties such as serving on committees, introducing bills and advocating for statehood.
In announcing his campaign and attempted political comeback, Brown will face questions about his 2013 bribery charge and admission in federal court that he took $55,000 in cash payments from undercover FBI investigators who were posing as representatives of a company trying to do business with the District near the end of his council tenure. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors said, Brown admitted to taking the money in exchange for helping the business win contracts and a classification that could generate other financial opportunities. Brown’s attorney attributed his actions to his personal financial challenges, including expenses related to a divorce in 2011.
Brown served a single term as an at-large member of the council from 2009 to 2013. He was sentenced to 39 months in prison and ultimately released in 2016. At the time of his sentencing, Brown said he was “caught up in a culture of corruption running rampant in our city.” (Two Democratic former council members, Harry Thomas Jr. (Ward 5) and chairman Kwame R. Brown, also pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges around the time he accepted the bribes; Thomas also attempted a political comeback, but was unsuccessful).
“Relative to my huge mistake, I paid the price; I took responsibility,” said Brown. “I put myself in that situation and I shouldn’t have. I will continue to make it up to the people I let down, and I apologize for it. I’m not perfect, but I’m perfect for this job.”
The son of late Commerce Secretary and Democratic National Committee chairman Ronald H. Brown, Michael A. Brown ran unsuccessfully for D.C. mayor and Ward 4 council member before winning a seat on the council in 2008 as an independent. Recognized for his support of social services programs — he led a council effort to expand the eligibility for food stamps — Brown’s 2012 reelection bid faltered amid questions about his finances and his revelation that $114,000 was missing from his campaign account, which Brown said was stolen by his former campaign treasurer, Hakim Sutton. Sutton pleaded guilty in 2014 for redirecting the campaign funds to his own bank account.
Now, more than a decade after his guilty plea, Brown says he is in a better financial position. But rather than another council run, he wants to parlay his 20 or so years of lobbying experience…
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