Case 1:12-cr-00003-JDB Document 15-1 Filed 04/27/12 Page 2 of 128 Honorable .John D. Bates U.S. Districfi Court 333 Cons~s~u~ion Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 2000]. Dear Judge Bates. As ~ native Washingtonian, I have tried to dedicate my IEfe to serving others and, in particular, to helping youth in the District of Columbia. In those pursuits, as a coach end mentor, I have preached responsibility and tried ~o lead by example. The actions I have taken betrayed. everything that I have attempted to accomplish. I did not live by my words, and rather than leading by example, I set a poor example, My conduct was inexcusable. It is clear ghat, as an elected aff~cial, I should not have arranged to diver grant fiends to organizations in which I had a personal interest and should not have used any of the funds myself. I broke the law, and I accept full respansib~li~y for my actions. I pled guilty because I am truly sorry for what I did and because I know thafi I myself must adhere to the lessons I have taught others about the importance of `owning up." As I have always said to those I have mentored: 1% or 100%, wrong is wrong. Clearly, what I dPd I was wrong. The only way for me to move forward in my life is to own up -- to acknowledge how poor my judgment was, to admit that I broke the faw and to accept the consequences. T am particularly sorry for the harm I have caused others. By violating the trust that people paced in me, I brought shame not only on myself, but are my family and my supporters. I could not have let them down more. I also let down my former colleagues in District government and the citizens of the District of Columbia, especially the young people. To all of them, I apologize. Because of my misdeeds, I forfeited the chance ofi a lifetime --the chance they gave me to serve them in government. Taking fuEl responsibility for my conduct and accepting the punishment that wil[ be imposed is the first step I am taking. I will need to spend a lot of time making amends and seeking to earn the forgiveness I hr~~~ one day to receive. Words, i know, will not be sufficient. Only actions will be. I look forward to working to make a difference in the Ives of others, especially those whose trust I must restore. Respectfully, ~,~. __.,-~ O` /`~~'~~`~ HarrY .Thomas fir. ~~ ,