Sharon Wise‘s tenure as the project manager for two of Councilmember Marion S. Barry Jr.’s fishy nonprofits, Clean and Sober Inc. and the Ward 8 Youth Leadership Council, was at best a rocky one. Wise’s contract was terminated after she complained that Barry and his staffer Brenda Richardson were using the earmarked funds improperly. Wise eventually turned into a whistleblower.

According to the Bennett Report, Wise had to put up with more than just financial hanky-panky. She had to put up with Barry’s constant advances. She told investigators that Barry “frequently requested sexual favors” from her.

When asked to respond during his deposition, Barry refused to answer questions about his relationship with Wise. “I think that’s outside the scope of the inquiry,” he stated.

When asked if Barry “had ever requested a sexual favor,” Wise stated in her deposition: “He probably suggested it 562 times.”

Among the 562 times, Barry asked her to “sit on my lap” and “come over here and give me a hug” and told her she was his “baby.”

Wise said her typical response to Barry’s advances was: “Have you lost your mind?”

*file photo by Darrow Montgomery.