Sulaimon Brown’s allegations should be taken seriously

THE SERIOUSNESS of Sulaimon Brown’s allegations should not be lost in the circus-like optics of his appearance before a D.C. Council committee probing the hiring practices of Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s administration. Mr. Brown, for all his bizarre affectations, appeared without an attorney and testified under oath. He has produced documents that support his version of an unseemly — and possibly illegal — quid pro quo. Though it has yet to be determined whether Mr. Brown is telling the truth, his version of events has also not been undermined.
Mr. Brown, a former mayoral candidate, testified for four hours Monday about claims that Mr. Gray and his campaign aides gave him money and a lucrative government job in exchange for attacks on then-Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in last year’s Democratic primary. Appearing before a council committee probing the personnel practices of Mr. Gray’s administration, Mr. Brown — refusing to shed the dark sunglasses that lent a surreal air to the hearing — was combative, declining to answer some questions and criticizing individual council members. “Mr. Brown, your delusions are limitless,” council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) said. “You’re out of your goddamn mind,” said council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8).