A cocktail party intended to celebrate the legacy of disgraced Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson has been officially canceled.
The fete was supposed to happen on Nov. 29 at the gleaming Gaylord National Hotel at National Harbor, one of the massive new developments that sprang up under Johnson's tenure.
Billed as a "Farewell Celebration" for Johnson, who has been the County Exec since 2002, the invite required guests to dress in "cocktail attire" and hinted that his legacy would be defined by "leadership" and "service."
"I don't believe it is happening," said Johnson's spokesman Jim Keary, who called back to assure us it off. Keary could not say why the event was canceled or who was supposed to pay for it.
But, a read through court papers filed in federal court after Johnson was arrested gives some clues: FBI agents set up a sting with a cooperator they are calling Developer A, and they watched as the developer handed Johnson $15,000 in cash.
The feds say that the money was given in exchange for "official influence and authority for the benefit of Developer A," according to court papers. But Johnson shot back that the cash was supposed to be used for a party marking the end of his term.
Regardless, the feds kept that cash and the party has been bagged.