With the news today that the four-year federal investigation into him is over, ex-Mayor Vince Gray reacted to U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips‘s decision to close the case and pointed towards what’s next.

“Here in the District and around the country many people have had their faith in our justice system tested,” Gray says in a statement. “Justice delayed is justice denied, but I cannot change history.”

Gray also points towards a potential run for office.

“I look forward to getting on with the next chapter of my life, which will no doubt be dedicated to service,” Gray says.

The end of the Gray investigation doesn’t look great for Muriel Bowser, who won last year’s primary in part thanks to U.S. Attorney Ron Machen dropping Jeff Thompson‘s guilty plea so close to the election. This afternoon, Bowser defended calling on Gray to resign in 2012. 

“I think it was appropriate to ask questions about the fairness of the 2010 mayoral campaign,” Bowser says. “The U.S. attorney secured seven convictions related to that campaign.”

Gray’s potential run should be unhappy news for councilmembers—including Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander and At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange—who he could run against next year. Bowser has already started gearing up for a fight—-this afternoon, when asked about Gray’s chances in Ward 7, Bowser praised Alexander and pointed out that Gray himself endorsed her when she ran for D.C. Council.

“One thing I know about voters is they’re future-oriented,” Bowser says.

Gray pal Barbara Lang, the former head of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, tells LL that she thinks it’s more likely than not that Gray will run for a Council seat.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him back in public office,” Lang says.

See Gray’s full statement below:

“My life’s work has been dedicated to uplifting people. I ran for Mayor to serve District residents. Today’s announcement from the U.S. Attorney ends a lengthy investigation. Here in the District and around the country many people have had their faith in our justice system tested. Justice delayed is justice denied, but I cannot change history. I look forward to getting on with the next chapter of my life, which will no doubt be dedicated to service.”

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Updated 2:40 p.m.

Additional reporting by Andrew Giambrone