The Nation : D.C. Mayor to Ask Airing of Drug Denial

Mayor Marion Barry of Washington plans to ask for release of his grand jury testimony, in which he denied using drugs with a convicted narcotics dealer. News reports have said that former city employee Charles Lewis has allegedly told prosecutors that he and Barry repeatedly used crack cocaine together. “I’m prepared to ask the prosecutor to release my testimony before the grand jury and Mr. Lewis’ testimony, so therefore the public can see what was said,” Barry said at a City Hall news conference. “A small group of character assassins have taken it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands . . . to do in the press what they can’t do in court.” Testimony before a federal grand jury generally is kept under seal until it is brought up in open court. “We have nothing to hide regarding the testimony of the mayor or Mr. Lewis,” said Barry’s attorney, R. Kenneth Mundy.