DC Council Takes Major Action Against Metro Board Chair: Report

WASHINGTON, DC -- The D.C. Council has formally reprimanded Councilmember Jack Evans, also chair of the Metro Board, for using his government email address to pursue business opportunities, according to a report.

WUSA 9 reports that the D.C. Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to formally reprimand Evans after he was accused of using his public office to enrich himself.

Evans also lost his responsibilities on the finance committee as part of the reprimand, and will no longer be allowed to oversee EventsDC and the Commission on Arts and Humanities, the report states.

Evans reportedly apologized before the vote, pledging that he would seek to restore their trust. He is the longest-serving member on the Council.

WMATA is conducting an ethics investigation of Evans over allegations that he may have benefited financially from his official role.

Evans "faces a potential reprimand, removal from committees or potentially harsher penalties (including request to DC Council for his removal), as laid out in Metro's code of ethics," Washington Post transportation reporter Faiz Siddiqui tweeted earlier this month.

Evans chairs Metro's Ethics Committee, but it was the vice chair who held the meeting in early March and Evans did not participate, Siddiqui noted.