The Nation - News from Jan. 26, 1989

Washington Mayor Marion Barry denied allegations that the image of the nation’s capital has been tarnished by reports that he repeatedly visited a reputed drug dealer at a motel and a subsequent federal grand jury investigation. In a sometimes testy exchange with reporters at his monthly news conference, Barry said the probe into his frequent visits last month to the hotel room of former city employee Charles Lewis and reported free-wheeling spending by city employees on a $260,000 personnel project with the Virgin Islands has not affected his management or the city’s operation. The Virgin Islands project was co-managed by Lewis, who also was the target of an undercover drug investigation while renting a room at the Ramada Inn from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. “I think the whole affair has been blown out of proportion,” Barry said.