A rogue politician was arrested and charged with drug possession and the use of crack cocaine 33 years ago today.
Marion Barry had been the Democrat mayor of the District of Columbia, Washington, since 1979 when his filthy habit was discovered in an epic sting operation by the FBI and District of Columbia police.
In 1990, he was cuffed at the Vista International Hotel alongside former girlfriend Hazel Diane "Rasheeda" Moore.
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Moore was an FBI informant who had agreed to help bring down the politician in exchange for a reduced sentence in connection with another drug conviction, and invited Barry to the hotel room where she offered him the illegal substance before the pair had sex.
Meanwhile fellow agents watched the events unfold using a hidden camera and saw the pair smoking the substance.
Barry's arrest has since become infamous, with the mayor saying of his then-squeeze: "Bitch set me up. I shouldn't have come up here. Goddamn bitch."
In September 1991, Barry was sentenced to six months behind bars for possession of crack cocaine.
But it wasn't the end for the mayor's political career – after completing his jail stint, Barry said he had worked on his "personal adversities" and was elected to the city council.
In 1994 he was elected as mayor for an unprecedented fourth term.
But it was not meant to be. Barry found himself accused of corruption on multiple occasions and, in 1997, he was stripped of a lot of his power before retiring in 1999.
Barry briefly came out of retirement and re-entered politics when he ran for the Ward 8 City Council seat, winning over a whopping 96% of voters in November 2004.
Barry died in 2014 of a heart attack at the age of 78.
Moore and Barry's animosity became a focal point of Barry's court case after Moore was filmed crying out "Maria, Maria" as the pair inhaled the potent drug.
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According to the Washington City Paper, Barry's legal team said she was referring to Rose "Maria" McCarthy Anding, a former girlfriend of Barry's whose relationship with the mayor had sent Moore into a jealous rage, leading her to team up with the police to ensnare the rogue politician.
In the footage captured by the FBI, "Maria" was brought up three times – the first time, Moore asked Barry if he had spoken to Maria recently, to which he said he had.
However, sensing Moore’s jealously, he then asked her what Maria’s last name was.
"Give me a break," Moore could be heard saying, which prompted Barry to respond: "No, I’m serious, baby."
Maria was brought up again when Moore listed the women Barry had been with.
"And Maria," Moore said.
“Maria, my ass,” Barry replied.
Later in the conversation, Moore stopped Barry talking abruptly and said it surprised her the pair had been romantically involved.
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