Barry's ex may not receive money she's owed

WASHINGTON - The woman at the center of Marion Barry's most recent arrest is still owed $5,000 by the District, but WTOP has learned she may not get all that cash because of a previous unpaid debt.

Donna Watts-Brighthaupt hasn't been shy about talking about her relationship with the former mayor and current councilmember -- or the $60,000 contract she had.

Watts-Brighthaupt has already collected $15,000 from the Council in taxpayer funds, and according to her contract, she's still owed another $5,000.

But on July 1, after Barry was arrested and many wondered whether Watts-Brighthaupt did any actual work for the money, Attorney Thomas Mauro was in D.C. Superior Court obtaining a Writ of Attachment against the $5,000.

According to court records, Watts-Brighthaupt defaulted on a 2007 home improvement loan. Mauro represents HRAC LLC, a collection firm that has been assigned the debt by the contractor, Snyder Home Services of Owings Mill.

Mauro tells WTOP the Secretary of the Council has been served with the attachment. The judgement was for $3,362.79.

Stalking charges against Barry were dropped on Thursday. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said after analyzing the "relevant factors," including "elements of the offense and the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence," they decided not to pursue charges.

D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray has retained Robert Bennett, a former President Clinton lawyer, to review Barry's contracts, Gray announced at a press conference Friday.

Bennett will work Pro Bono and will have subpeona power.

There are only four councilmembers who have contracts, Gray says. Those councilmembers are Marion Barry, Jim Graham, Michael Brown and Kwame Brown.

Councilmember David Catania left the press conference, saying he couldn't "take it anymore" as Barry defended his actions. Councilmember Mary Cheh also left with Catania.

Catania later clarified his actions in a statement.

"I left today's press conference because to have stayed may have given the false impression that Councilmembers, including myself, are rallying to Mr. Barry's side or condoning his actions," writes Catania. "This is not the case."

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty won't say whether he believes Barry's hiring of his girlfriend violates council rules.

"I don't know what restrictions council members do or do not have," Fenty says.

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