Marion Barry
JOB TITLE : Mayor, City Councilman
PARTY : Democrat
CRIME/ALLEGATION : Abuse of Power, Perjury, Use of Illicit Substances, Prostitution
PUNISHMENT : Resigned, Imprisoned
The story of Marion Barry’s cocaine bust, though it happened over 15 years ago, is still a common punch line among late night comedians. Caught on video in an FBI sting purchasing and using crack cocaine, his outraged outburst of “Bitch set me up!” is still joked about to this day.
Democrats have no shame. Throughout the years of allegations of cocaine use on Barry’s part, he denied it and accused the media of being “out to get him”. When he finally was caught, instead of taking responsibility for his own actions, he accused the “bitch” of “setting him up”, instead of realizing that had he simply NOT used cocaine, this wouldn’t have happened. And then, to top it off, he pleaded not guilty at his trial, on the grounds that the FBI had entrapped him - despite witnesses testifying that Barry had used cocaine hundreds of times at dozens of locations.
Barry stepped down as mayor, but decided to run for city council. It was during his campaign that he was sentenced to a 6 month prison sentence. After he got out, he got back into politics, proving that D.C. residents have either short-term memories, or just don’t care that their mayor is a crackhead and a criminal.
Barry’s troubles didn’t end then. In 2002, police found cocaine and marijuana in his car. Consistent with his former patterns of claiming persecution and evading responsibility for his actions, he claimed the drugs were planted. Alas, in 2005 Barry was accused of failing to file income taxes for 10 years, and, finding no way to blame this on racist cops, pled guilty. The courts made him undergo a drug test, and he tested positive for cocaine. Perhaps the crooked cops shoved the coke up his nose, too?
SOURCES :- Ayres, B Drummond Jr. "6 Months for Mayor Barry on Cocaine Charge." New York Times 27 Oct 1990, late ed.: A1
- McElhatton, Jim. "Barry faces prison for tax failure ; He could serve 18 months." The Washington Times 7 Feb 2006, A1
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