The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia announced Wednesday it will end its long-running investigation into former Mayor Vince Gray’s 2010 campaign without any additional charges.
The announcement comes nearly two years after U.S. prosecutors say Jeffrey Thompson, a local D.C. businessman and Gray confidante, ran a “shadow campaign” to help get Gray elected.
Ron Machen, who stepped down from the top spot at the U.S. Attorney’s Office earlier this year, launched the investigation in 2011 just after Gray took office.
The investigation revealed an intricate network of donors who conspired to funnel unreported money into Gray’s campaign.
Thompson already pleaded guilty to dumping more than $650,000 into the campaign illegally. Twelve other people also pleaded guilty to taking part in the scheme.
Gray, though, maintained his innocence throughout the trial process, rejecting a plea deal last year for one felony count.
In a statement to reporters, Gray says he is happy the investigation has ended, and he is just looking forward to moving on.
“Here in the District and around the country many people have had their faith in our justice system tested,” Gray says. “Justice delayed is justice denied, but I cannot change history.”
The feds ended the nearly five-year-old investigation Wednesday with little more than a statement and little explanation.
According to the USAO statement, the investigation just didn’t provide enough evidence for the feds to believe they had a solid case.
“In this investigation, based on a thorough review of the available evidence and applicable law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has concluded that the admissible evidence is likely insufficient to obtain and sustain a criminal conviction against any other individuals related to the federal and local political campaigns,” the statement reads.
The end of the investigation makes it possible for the USAO to begin setting sentencing dates for seven people who pleaded guilty in connection to the campaign conspiracy, but who have yet to be sentenced.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.