Washington, D.C

Two lawyers barred from D.C. jail over drug-tainted paperwork, officials say

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Two lawyers barred from D.C. jail over drug-tainted paperwork, officials say

Two defense attorneys have been barred from meeting with clients at the D.C. jail after residue of illegal drugs was found on paperwork that the lawyers carried into the facility, according to two employees of the city’s Department of Corrections.

One of the attorneys, Kevin McCants, who has been practicing in the District since 2005, said in an interview that he was informed by corrections officials last month that he could not visit the jail in person, pending an investigation. Instead, he would have to meet with clients via video or have one of his colleagues handle face-to-face meetings.

McCants said he was told in October by a jail security employee that paperwork he was carrying had a stain on it that “looked wet.” McCants, in an interview, said that the stain was dry. He said he was then told that the paperwork contained residue that tested positive as synthetic marijuana.

McCants said a family member of one of his clients had given him the paperwork to pass along to the client. McCants said he should not have tried to deliver paperwork to the jail that did not originate with him. But he said he was distracted at the time by the death of a close friend.

“I made a mistake,” McCants said. “I may have been a little bit off. Dealing with grieving a friend’s death. I did nothing wrong. I built my integrity over a lifetime. My integrity stands in place.”

Defense lawyer Donna Beasley also confirmed that she has been banned from the jail, but declined to discuss the circumstance. Beasley said that she, like McCants, can meet with jailed clients via video and that her hired investigators can go into the jail to meet inmates in her absence.

The two Department of Corrections employees who said the lawyers were banned spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

Inmates seeking illegal drugs can use the tainted paperwork in place of actual drugs. Roger Mitchell, a former D.C. medical examiner, said inmates could rip up the paperwork and either smoke it or place pieces of it under their tongues to get intoxicated. “That’s why all things coming into jail need to be looked at or tested,” he said.

The D.C. Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association has since reminded its 200 members that they should not bring materials into the jail unless the items originated with themselves, police or prosecutors.

Betty Ballester, a former head of the association, said a memo was distributed to members detailing what they can and cannot bring to clients. “We can bring in any kind of legal materials,” she said. “We are not allowed to bring in newspapers, books or personal items, such as pictures or letters from family members. Just legal documents.”

In a statement Thursday, Thomas Faust, the director of the Department of Corrections, declined to provide specifics of the investigation but praised his employees for identifying drug-tainted items brought into the jail.

“Our staff is trained and equipped with the necessary tools and techniques to detect and intercept contraband,” Faust said in a statement. “We employ a variety of strategies, including regular searches, advanced screening and detection technologies, and intelligence gathering, to ensure that contraband is identified and seized promptly.”

The office of D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) declined to comment on the two lawyers. After The Washington Post submitted a Freedom of Information Act request in October for details regarding the banning of the attorneys, Bowser’s Office of Legal Counsel denied an appeal in December, saying the details were “relevant to an ongoing investigation” and that releasing them “would impact the integrity of the investigation and any subsequent enforcement proceeding.”

Like many correctional facilities, the D.C. jail has grappled with how to stop prisoners from getting drugs. From 2021 to September, six inmates died of overdoses in the jail, according to the D.C. medical examiner’s office.

In 2022, a D.C. corrections officer and two other people, including an inmate, were charged with smuggling prohibited drugs into the jail. Also that year, two inmates died and another was hospitalized in apparent drug overdoses.

In July, inmate Marktwan Hargraves, 24, was found dead in his cell. According to a spokeswoman for the D.C. medical examiner, Hargraves died of the “combined toxic effects” of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl and mirtazapine.

Last week another inmate, 47-year-old Roy Tatum, was found dead in his cell. The cause of his death is pending autopsy by the medical examiner’s office.

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Washington, D.C

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

Published

6 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Storm Team4 Forecast: Thick fog to clear before storms, rain Thursday night

4 things to know about the weather:

Grab the umbrella
Big temperature ranges
Thunder possible Thursday night
Warmer days on the way

Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.

Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.

Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.

Warmer temperatures coming this weekend

These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.

Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.

So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.

Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.

For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

QuickCast

THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°

THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°

FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°

SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°

SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°

Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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Washington, D.C

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

Published

18 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Tax expert explains DC filing season amid Congress-District dispute

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.

“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.

“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.

RELATED | DC Council Chairman talks taxes, budget, bodycams, federal surge

Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.

“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.

SEE MORE | Development of new Commanders stadium scrutinized at DC oversight hearing

“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }

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Washington, D.C

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

CHERRY BLOSSOM COUNTDOWN: Peak Bloom prediction drops Thursday

WASHINGTON (7News) — The nation’s capital is just about ready to be transformed into a breathtaking pastel landscape of cherry trees in bloom. The famed blossoms around the Tidal Basin are not only a symbol of spring’s arrival, but also of a long-standing friendship — a gift of more than 3,000 trees from Tokyo, Japan, to the United States in 1912.

So what is considered “Peak Bloom”?

The National Park Service (NPS) defines peak bloom as the time when at least 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin have opened their blossoms. This is the period when the blossoms appear most full and spectacular and most ideal for photos, and soaking up spring’s beauty here in DC.

Because cherry trees respond to the cumulative effects of winter and spring weather, especially daily temperatures, it’s very difficult to predict peak bloom more than about 10 days in advance. Warm spells accelerate blooming; cold snaps slow it down.

Average Timing — What History Shows

Since 1921 overall, national data indicate peak bloom typically fell around early April (April 4), based on historical averages.

Average date peak bloom – cherry blossom trees Washington DC Tidal Basin

Since 1990, the average has kept shifting earlier and earlier. In fact, the last 6 years our peak has occurred in late March.

These shifts reflect how warmer springs have nudged peak bloom earlier over the decades.

Earliest & Latest Blooms on Record

Earliest peak bloom: March 15 — recorded in 1990.

Latest peak bloom: April 18 — recorded in 1958.

Of course, most years fall between those dates, with the last week of March to the first week of April historically being the most consistent window for peak bloom.

Earliest Peak Bloom Washington DC

Recent peak blooms show how variable and climate-dependent the timing can be:

2025: The National Park Service predicted peak bloom between March 28–31 (and confirmed the official peak around March 28).

2024: Peak bloom arrived very early, on March 17, several days ahead of NPS projections — tied for one of the earliest peaks in decades.

These examples demonstrate not only how much each season can differ, but also a trend toward earlier spring blossoms in recent years.

What to Expect for Spring 2026

As of early March 2026, the cherry trees are still dormant. The buds haven’t begun significant growth yet. The weather will become more critical in the weeks leading up to the bloom will be the biggest factor in determining when peak bloom happens in 2026.

Heavy winter cold, as experienced this year, tends to delay bloom compared with recent early springs. In contrast, an early warm stretch could push peak bloom earlier — as long as it doesn’t come with subsequent frost.

Look for the green bud stage first. This is when the buds are small, tight, and green, with no sign of petals yet. Trees are still several weeks from blooming.

Tips for Cherry Blossom Visitors

Plan in the “sweet spot” — peak bloom often lasts a few days to about a week, but weather (rain, wind, heat) can shorten that window.

Visit slightly before or after the predicted peak dates for smaller crowds and extended color. Blossoms can be gorgeous even before 70% bloom or as petals begin falling.

Check NPS updates and First Alert Weather forecasts in late March for tweaked peak bloom dates.

The cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C. remain one of the most iconic harbingers of spring in the U.S., and while exact bloom dates vary year-to-year, history and natural patterns point to late March through early April as your best bet for seeing the Tidal Basin in full floral glory.

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