WASHINGTON -- Mayor Marion Barry publicly apologized for putting the nation's capital in an embarrassing position by repeatedly visiting a hotel room occupied by a former city employee suspected in a drug probe.
In a television interview on WETA-TV, which aired Friday and again Saturday, Barry said, 'What bothers me is that this whole situation was precipitated by bad judgment on my part.'
During December, Barry repeatedly visited a longtime acquaintance and former city personnel employee Charles Lewis at the Ramada Inn Central, located near a drug corridor in northwest Washington.
Police last week discovered traces of cocaine in the ninth-floor room occupied by Lewis after being tipped off by a hotel maid who said Lewis offered her cocaine. A planned drug purchase Dec. 22 from Lewis by undercover police was called off when it was learned Barry was in the room with the suspect.
Barry acknowledges visiting Lewis, but he said at 'no time did I see any drugs, use any drugs or have any knowledge of any drugs.'
Barry said he was sorry about visiting the hotel, which he called a 'bad address.'
'I apologize to our citizens. I apologize to the country for putting our city into this kind of situation,' he said adding, 'this human being stands here ready to say 'I'm sorry' about those poor judgments.'
Barry, 52, serving an unprecedented third term, said he has waged a lifelong battle against drug use. Following his public statements he told reporters he would submit to a drug test 'if I thought it would help the situation.'
'It would be inconsistent with my character, with my integrity, with my veracity, to be involved in such activity or to be around such persons who would knowingly do this,' he said.
D.C. Police Chief Maurice Turner said his department has discussed the police probe with the office of U.S. Attorney Jay B. Stephens, who has promised a full investigation.
Many of the district's political and civic leaders have said that regardless of the outcome of the probe, the case has caused the city national embarrassment and has severely hampered Barry's ability to lead the local war on drugs.
