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The day after federal agents tossed his Georgetown home as a part of an ongoing investigation, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans was snapped enjoying a meal al fresco without his shoes on at Sette Osteria on Connecticut Avenue NW.
Twitter user @petworthnewvie took the picture at 2 p.m. on Saturday. “Quite frankly, I didn’t realize he was shoeless until after I left and looked at the photo,” the user tells City Paper, declining to provide their name.
The restaurant did spot that Evans was shoeless, but managers don’t have time to give a hoot about something as trivial as an embattled local politician’s outfit.
“I noticed it, but I didn’t care,” says Sette manager Massima. “Honestly when I’m busy, that’s not the stuff I pay attention to. I’m running around just trying to satisfy everything and everyone.”
Massima confirms that the councilmember is a regular at Sette Osteria in Dupont Circle.
In case you missed it: Federal agents pounded on the door of Evans’ Georgetown home at 6 a.m. on Friday. The street was closed off and reporters could see agents carrying boxes out of the residence. This comes as federal authorities have been investigating Evans and his relationship with clients of his consulting firm for more than a year. Additionally, Evans announced he’ll step down from the WMATA Board of Directors on June 27 following the results of an investigation that show he violated multiple ethics rules.
City Paper reached out to Evans with a couple of questions: Did you arrive barefoot or remove your shoes once you were settled in? What do you like most about dining without shoes on? This post will be updated should Evans respond and let us in on his sans-shoes lifestyle.
There is nothing in the DC Department of Health’s health codes for food service operations that speaks to shoes being required. This seems to be the norm, at least in the U.S. The organization Barefoot is Legal holds the position that “all 50 states have confirmed there are no health department regulations banning bare feet for patrons.”