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In Board of Elections Filing ANC08A Commissioner Holly Muhammad Calls Constituent a “RACIST and hates Black Women and Muslims.”

ANC08A Commissioner Holly Muhammad Calls Constituent a “RACIST and hates Black Women and Muslims.” in response to his petition to recall her.

Commissioner Muhammad filed a response to my petition to recall. Its d

Commissioner Muhammad filed a response to my petition to recall. Its disgusting, without any merit, it speaks to her character and its only because she’s mad I’m standing up to her.

Click the text above to read her entire response which she submitted and will be printed on my Recall Ballot.

Her lies. Her antics must stop. An eleced official should never attack a voter in such a disgusting way.

This flyer was distributed over a few block radius to Tom’s neighbors

(flyer was distributed along a several block radius of Tom’s address to all his neighbors – a misc police report was filed)

I have two options:

Accept the petition I submitted to the Board of elections with Holly’s lies and inflammatory remarks meant to pit my neighbors against me

or…

I decline the petition and the petition dies.  Ultimately allowing Holly to continue knowing she will not represent me as an individual or a small Ward 8 business owner.


Since the Board of Elections will allow a response on a petition to read anything the respondent wants it to say. Someone could literally say anything – like he’s a murderer and they say they’d still publish it. I’m stuck with having to accept Holly’s disgusting response no matter what ramifications her words could cause me whether short or long term.  Those are my only two options. 

Holly expects me to reject it, so my petition goes away. It seems she’ll do it at any cost.  However she also knows that by her calling me a racist, by her saying I hate black woman and Muslims not only is she potentially putting my safety in jeopardy when I walk to peoples doors asking for signatures but she is defaming my name via the Board of Elections who will print this false information and force me to walk around to my neighbors asking my neighbors to sign in support of Holly to being recalled from office.  Rather than defending her job-related reasons (nothing personal) I’ve listed, Holly wants to attack me personally with lies in hopes she can influence our neighbors. I am not an elected official I should not have to defend myself personally I’d be fine with defending my reasons if that was the case.  The elected official should not be able to attack the citizen personally.  

To address the other things she mentions, I have only been in her physical prescience I think twice. All communication has been virtual or via email. I have never been ‘aggressive’ I’ve never thought we was weak or any of that. I do have cameras on the outside of my building. They capture only public areas – no areas where there is no expectation to privacy. These cameras have captured violent crime such as the killing of Mr. David Farewell when he was intentionally struck and ran over left to die on 22nd Street SE or when one of our neighbors were robbed at gunpoint, two instances where it was the right thing to do for all of us to provide video to the authorities. Everything else is all about Holly’s vendetta towards me for my attempts to recall her.

Yes, she is right regarding one thing… I was hoping and expecting her fellow ANC Commissioners to step up and stop her from keeping me from entering ANC Meetings for six months. I stand by my words that their lack of any action should be known and would be included in any report to news outlets.  It’s a shame they just watched each month as she refused me access month over month, I had expected the Commissioners to strip Ms. Muhammad from her leadership role. However, they stood by and simply allowed Ms. Muhammad to continue to grant me access or return any of my FOIA requests, to this day she has completely ignored my request.

So, It’s truly disgusting that the Board of Elections feels they must allow these falsehoods to be printed and distributed by them.  Only other option is to drop it and have it go away leaving her to continue her unethical ways.  I have no choice but to allow the Board of Elections to print and publish my petition which will include her response.  I will walk around asking people to support me in having her recalled and hope they will look at what she wrote and see her words are just as good as her job performance as ANC – lacking anything really.

I want to make it clear I have no intentions of filling her seat if she is recalled or running for her seat. I do want to make it clear that our ANC should be ran and respected and that can only happen if Holly is no longer part of our commission.

Supporting Documentation In Support of Recalling ANC08 Commissioner Holly Muhammad

Supporting Documentation Supporting A Successful Recall of ANC08A Commissioner Holly Muhammad

This started when Holly without cause, warning discussion ejected me from my July 2021 ANC Meeting. I immediately requested the video and chat text be preserved and I send a letter to the Office of the ANC. The following PDF is the exchange of emails between Holly Muhammad and myself.

The Email String

Re_-Ejection-from-Tonights-Meeting-email-stringDownload

The FOIA Requests – All to this day have been ignored

FOIA-Request-of-July-13-1Download

Third Ignored FOIA request

Freedom-of-Information-Request-SignedDownload

Appeal to Executive office of Mayor for Ignored FOIA Responses

Appeal-August-14thDownload

Tom’s Hearing with BOE on Recall Petition

Complaint to AG Racine

Ltr-to-Attorney-General-Re-Holly-Muhammad-pdfDownload

Response from Attorney General’s Office

Re_-ANC8A-Matters-with-ANC-Commissioner-Holly-Muhammad-Download

Complaint to Inspector General

Ltr-to-Inspector-GeneralDownload

Tom’s Letter to District of Columbia –

To-the-Goverment-of-the-District-of-Columbia-1Download

OANC Response to Tom’s Letter To Gov’t of DC

Mr.-Grant-responseDownload

Tom’s Response To Mr. Grants Letter to Tom

Toms-Response-to-Mr.-GrantDownload

Recall Petition from BOE With Toms Notes

Recall-Petition-with-notesDownload

Tom withdrew first petition to immediatly submit updated second petition

Second-Recall-ApplicationsDownload

Commissioner Muhammad’s Second Response to second Recall Petition

To The Government of the District of Columbia

The BOE says go to OANC, OANC says to go to AG, AG  OAG tells me to go to ethics board, ethics board tells me to go to OANC.

An Emal to the District of Columbia April 22, 2022

This is just crazy. The District of Columbia Government appears to just want to pass the buck till I go away Or you are just as influenced by Holly Muhammad as the rest of the ANC08 Commissioners!

Tom Donohue
Small business Owner
Ward 8

The BOE says go to OANC, OANC says to go to AG, AG  OAG tells me to go to ethics board, ethics board tells me to go to OANC.

I’ve filed an updated petition Ms. Muhammad’s response is just – I honestly don’t have words. “He is a RACIST and hates Black Women and Muslims.” Besides being responsible (Theres no other explanation) for the attached flyer…

This process has been disgusting how this elected official can do this to a regular guy – not involved in politics yet is pushed into it to protect his rights and step up for what is right.

Can’t the District of Columbia do better than this?

Oh, I’ve also learned that this ANC08 commission has not filed quarterly financial reports for an entire year.  Sit on that too. See what happens.

Respectfully,

Tom Donohue
Small business owner
Ward 8
202-525-4390 x 102

OAG:

“This appears to be a matter for which the enforcement power would lie with other District government bodies rather than with this Office.  If the Chair is continuing to eject you from public meetings without ANC approval (see this letter we recently issued on a similar question: https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/ANC-2A01-Letter-re-Commissioners-Speaking-in-ANC-Meetings-.pdf), you should contact the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability.  Concerns about the conduct of an ANC Chair should also be brought to the other members of the ANC, since each ANC has the power to take appropriate action by a majority vote of its members.”

Joshua A. Turner
Assistant Attorney General
Legal Counsel Division
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Board of Ethics and Government Accountability –

 Our review of this complaint indicates that the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, oanc@dc.gov , would be in the best position to address the issues raised in your complaint. We appreciate you taking the time to file this matter. However, we must respectfully decline to further investigate these allegations.

Ashley Cooks
Director of Government Ethics
Board of Ethics and Government Accountability

Office of Inspector General –

“The Office of Inspector General is in receipt of your complaint regarding the ANC and Commissioner Muhammad. However, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) does not have the authority over the enforcement of Freedom of Information Requests. Appeals are to be made to the Mayor’s Office, which you claim you have done. If you disagree with their opinion on the matter, you would need to take legal action. Additionally, the OIG has limited jurisdiction over ANC meetings or the conduct of commissioners unless it involves fraud realted to the use of District funds. Harrassment claims should be made to the Metropolitan Police Department. Thank you.”

Office of The Inspector General

t.

Collection-of-emailsDownload
65500776111__37AEA115-ADC6-496C-B39A-E7C982A4A659-1Download

    Donohue Submits Testimony to Judiciary Committee in Hopes For Recall Law Changes

    Tuesday, January 18, 2022
    Via Email

    Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
    Wilson Building Room 123
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC, 20004

    RE: Written Testimony Comprehensive Elections Reform Bill

    Dear Chairman Charles Allen,

    Please accept this document as written testimony in relation to the Comprehensive Elections Reform Bill hearing that took place on January 6, 2022.

    Thank you for accepting my testimony.  My name is Tom Donohue I am a small business owner and resident of Ward 8 located at 2200 Prout Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20020.

    I’d like to note this is the first time I have ever involved myself in any sort of politics.  I’ve found myself here before you as a result of attempting to execute my right to initiate a recall against my elected ANC Commissioner, Ms. Holly Muhammad, ANC8A.

    § 1–204.111. “Recall” defined. “The term “recall” means the process by which the qualified electors of the District of Columbia may call for the holding of an election to remove or retain an elected official of the District of Columbia (except the Delegate to Congress for the District of Columbia) prior to the expiration of his or her term.”

    On July 13, 2021, ANC08 Chairwoman Holly Muhammad ejected me from our monthly ANC meeting after I echoed concerns of others in the meetings chat how Ms. Muhammad needed to give her fellow commissioner the appropriate access in order for her to have a voice in the matter they were discussing at the time to be heard by everyone.  Without warning, discussion or cause Ms. Muhammad ejected me from the zoom meeting, by doing this this action also prevented me from returning to the meeting where I had planned on (I had even emailed this to Ms. Muhammad to cover in case I was unable to attend the meeting) covering two matters of concern which included lighting under the overpass that leads to Anacostia Park where just weeks later a homeless woman was murdered.  Immediately upon realizing I had been ejected from the meeting I wrote a request to the ANC Executive Director, Gottlieb Simon and I copied each of the ANC’s immediately requesting the “preservation of this evenings ANC8A meeting which was conducted via the Zoom platform and lead by my ANC Commissioner and Chairwoman Holly Muhmmad

    This request sparked a back and forth between Ms. Muhammad and myself in which she makes false claims that I am associated with the proud boys of Charlottesville and where she directs me to no longer contact her, she

    copies MPD 6D representatives to intimidate me saying, “You don’t dictate to me. I don’t

    take instructions from the Proud Boys from Charlottesville. Don’t email me again.” In another email

    she informs me “I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO”.

    As a result of Ms. Muhammad’s comments, I felt she could no longer represent me, and I filed a

    Intent to recall notice with the DC Board of Elections. You can see my reasons and her

    response below.

    Following is a snapshot of the actual petition as submitted for approval:

    At no point within her 198 words does she address any of my job-related concerns which I base my request for the recall.  Rather she decides to attack me personally claiming falsehoods intended to discredit me and to create doubt with our neighbors, the very neighbors who would be considering signing the recall. Additionally, the information she provided would also become a matter of public record.  By doing this any search attempt using my name could provide her response as a matter of record that could follow me forever and without context or discussion it could play a role in decision making for future jobs or any future political ambitions I may have in the future.  I shared these concerns at the Board of Elections Meeting on August 26, 2021. 

    During this August 26, 2021, meeting (See transcript attached) I was basically told by the board that I had two options.  1) Accept the petition as is with both sides verbiage including the false information and personal attacks submitted by Ms. Muhammad or 2) decline the verbiage and the petition would go away.

    Members of the Committee, I am not an elected official, I am not subject to the public scrutiny of an elected official.  Ms. Muhammad’s response was to attack me personally listing false accusations of actions she says I’ve taken since moving here eight years ago while not even referencing the very job-related concerns I listed in my petition.

     I believe this to be strategic.  I am a white man living in a predominately black neighborhood.  I believe Ms. Muhammad thought if she responded by telling my neighbors lies about matters that would alarm our black neighbors that they would put a heavier weight towards her accusations and my neighbors would decline my request to support the recall.  Now it is true that at the time I would have the opportunity to defend myself against these accusations however, unfortunately this petition likely will be made public, or even picked up by the media resulting in several people seeing or hearing about what is printed without any context or ability for me to defend myself.  At what point did I agree to be subjected to having to defend myself?  I am not the elected official.  I am just a resident who decided my elected official’s behavior rose to the level where she could no longer represent me and for those reasons, I submitted the recall. 

    The areas on the petition where the elected official is given opportunity to defend or respond is not intended to attack the petitioner its is intended to allow the elected official to defend themselves against the claims levied against them by a voter.  If every elected official decided to attack the petitioner personally that action alone could keep voters from filing for a recall.  According to the board members present at the August 26, 2021, meeting, Ms. Muhammad could have responded by saying Tom Donohue is a murderer and that verbiage would have been the verbiage printed on the ball and the verbiage I would have to accept or deny.  If I decline the verbiage the petition goes away.  If I accept the petition as submitted by the elected official, the lies and false information is printed on the petition/ballot and made public for everyone to see and even used as the collection device to collect signatures.  Now, you have the Board of Elections responsible for not only helping to spread the false information (I want to move forward so my only option is to accept the verbiage) but paying for the duplication and support needed to execute a recall.  I’d imagine that most voters take what is on an official ballot as truth and so having such false claims attacking me would be concerning and likely reason enough to not even file or to have it dropped.  (No place on the ballot does it indicate the statements are those of each side and have not been verified for accuracy even if it did this would not be enough) What if I choose to run for public office sometime in the future, these false claims would be presented on public record and seen by anyone.  What if for example as an independent contractor or small business owner someone Google’s my name to find this petition and false claims by an elected official to be true, without additional context her claims could be reason for my contract being denied or another contractor being chosen, and I didn’t even know it.

    During the August 26, 2021, meeting I was able to discuss a third option.  I requested that the petition be tabled for a future hearing in order to provide me an opportunity to have my options legally considered and reviewed.  A vote to have the matter tabled was taken and approved.  On December 15, 2021 I spoke with Mr. Jack Gilmore, the Attorney Advisor for the DC Board of Elections requesting that the board provide a written order that describes the boards only two options in how I can move forward, “you have the opportunity now to either approve the petition as it’s been submitted, or you can choose not to approve it” I made it clear to Mr. Gilmore that it would be my intention to take the order by the board and present it before the US Court of Appeals for argument and decision making.  Mr. Gilmore refused such a request saying that the bored took no action therefore no order could be created.

    I am attaching the transcript of the August 21, 2021, Board of Elections Meeting please reference pages 63-79 which pertains to my petition.  I am also attaching the proposed ballot/petition as prepared by the Board of Elections which required approval by the voter in order to proceed with the recall and collection of signatures.

    In summary the recall process needs to be revised No voter should be subject to having to defend themselves personally against false claims.  The elected official should be limited to responding to the matters the voter has raised.  I respectfully ask that you review this part of the law and find a way to resolve this. You’d think an elected official wouldn’t attack a voter however that very attack should not be the reason a voter drops a recall petition due in part to personal attacks directed at the voter.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Thomas M. Donohue, Jr.

    Congratulations To The New ANC8A Leadership: Missing Holly Muhammad

    BREAKING NEWS: Holly Muhammad No longer ANC8A Chair

    Congratulations are in order after leadership has changed within the until now Holly Muhammad controlled commission of ANC8A. I send my warm wishes and hopeful success to its new leadership:

    Chairperson – Commissioner Jamila White
    Vice Chairperson – Commissioner Robin McKinney
    Secretary – Commissioner Steven Tiller
    Treasurer – Commissioner Brian K. Thompson

    Commissioner Holly Muhammad’s Constituent Submits Testimony With Hopes of Changing Election Law & The Recall Process for Removing Elected Officals from Office

    Change can come in the form of just one or several paths one uses to take on a challenge such as the one my ANC Commissioner has put herself in.  Thanks to the new leadership transition team with the office of ANC who actually took the time to hear and offer the proper support assistance that office is tasked to offer, this matter will be heard and I am determined to make changes- good changes that make the process fair to both the voter and the elected official.

    Today, Sonia Weil, Senior Legislative Counsel for DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety (under which the Board of Elections falls) has invited Tom Donohue a Ward 8 voter and small business owner to submit written testimony for a hearing to be held on January 6th that will be used to look at for possible inclusion into a comprehensive election reform bill. Tom wishes to share some thoughts on the importance of this invitation.  He posted them on his newly launched www.recallinghollymuhammad.com site which he plans to use to keep his neighbors up to date with relation to his petition.
    Change can come in the form of just one or several paths one uses to take on a challenge such as the one my ANC Commissioner has put herself in.  Thanks to the new leadership transition team with the office of ANC who actually took the time to hear and offer the proper support assistance that office is tasked to offer, this matter will be heard and I am determined to make changes- good changes that make the process fair to both the voter and the elected official.
    This is the way government is set up to make changes to laws the process will now take over and my recall concern will have its proper consideration before the committee tasked with changing the law of which the Board of Election must follow. Background: I currently have a petition which has been tabled with the Board of Elections They are charged with handling the recall process and making sure the requirements of the law are followed.  In their interpretation of the law they feel the law or past prescience permits the elected official’s response to a voter’s petition to say anything as long as that response is within 200 words. In Tom’s petition to recall his elected ANC Commissioner Holly Muhammad, Commissioner Muhammad attacks me personally with falsehoods and false accusations that she knows are not true and without context, anyone reading her response could take what she says as fact as it is printed on official BOE petition. More importantly what both sides says becomes permanent public record which could then be searchable for years and without context the details of what she says could be used against me knowingly or unknowingly for employment or even future political aspirations (of which I do not have) but I note that as an example of how her response could affect me as a voter that as it could affect other DC voters who wish to begin the same process to remove an elected official from office. As unprofessional Commissioner Muhammad is as proven by her response to my recall petition, she must understand that a voter is not an elected official and should not be subject to public defaming and scrutiny public officials find themselves getting. My claims in my petition are not personal they are all related to Commissioner Muhammad’s disgusting and racist words she used while serving in her official capacity as an elected official. Her response is strategic in hopes to either keep me from moving forward with my petition by dropping it or to use the resources of the Board of Elections (funded by the residents of DC through the taxes paid) by way of the actual physical petition they would print, publish and circulate it for anyone to read. That there is part of my objection – she can wright anything in her response like “Tom is a murderer” and the Board of Elections would move to have her response say just that. Commissioner Muhammad if she wanted to be a respectable elected official should have simply responded to the job related claims I have made in my petition and kept her response to those matters, instead, knowing she wanted to inject her influence as an elected official.  She knew neighbors and others would see and possibly weigh what she says more influential she decided to use her 200 words to attack me personally but she didn’t stop with just that, she made up fake claims unrelated – (and I mean completely unrelated to any issue I claim on the petition.) yet would be concerning to any of my Black neighbors potentially causing them to dismiss my claims and not sign the petition or possibly having them cast judgement upon me if they take her claims to be facts. The law needs changed so that elected officials are tasked to keeping their response to the matters the voter has raised. The elected official is given this space on the petition to allow their voice and defense to be heard and to help voters make an informed decision after hearing both sides. It is not intended to smear or intimidate the voter. The voter should be able to raise matters of concern related to official duties of that elected official without fear or intimidation. During my petition hearing (see below) I was given two options: Accept the petition as submitted by both him and Commissioner Muhammad or not and if I didn’t accept it the petition would no longer be valid to move forward, and it would go away.  Tom suggested a third option while he reviews his options to fight this.  I refuse Holly the opportunity to bully me and have any effect on me in the long term, yet I refuse to allow her any opportunity to intimidate me by getting me to drop it and allow it to go away I have a right to be heard and right to inform my neighbors of how she represents those in her single member district. The process if she respected its true intention would have been for her to make her case against my claims and let the voter decide.  Tom plans to submit testimony and will make them available for the public upon his submission which he has until January 21, 2021.

    This would be the official petition as issued by the Board of Elections upon my accepting its verbiage as seen. Its currently tabled before the Board of ElectionsDownload
    Verbiage on the actual petition
    https://youtu.be/1SAXE1QA-CE
    The very words she used in emails towards me. For the record: I have No affiliation to the proud boys or any other like minded organization
    These are the email back and forth that were sent after she ejected me from my ANC meeting without cause, discussion or authority. She refused my admittance into every ANC meeting unti she was replaced on January 4, 2021 as ChairDownload

    Donohue Calls for Financial Audit of ANC8A

    Ms. Muhammad’s refusal to allow the voters of this ANC from be heard by refusal to allow a period of time for community involvement directly conflicts with the intended purpose of why the ANC’s have been establish without this local participation from the voters these meetings are simply one way communication of only the information Ms. Muhammad would like to report

    This is an email that was sent by Tom Donohue to the DC Auditor General requesting that a full financial audit take place of ANC8A as a result of Muhammad restricting public comments, there being no record of meeting minutes or any financial reports/discussions and finally the entire ANC8A website being suspended.

    Ms. Patterson, 

    I am circling back with you to officially request pursuant to D.C. Code, Section 1-264( d), that your office, the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor conduct an audit of the financial operations and activities of Advisory Neighborhood Commission ANC8A effective immediately. The objective of this audit should be to determine whether ANC 8A’s financial accounts and operations are in compliance with the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Act of 1975 (ANC law), as amended, Financial Guidelines and Procedures issued by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, and legal opinions issued by the Office of the Corporation Counsel.
    I strongly urge your office act without delay as this matter is important to the voters of ANC8A I am unable to find meeting minutes, financial reports or even documentation that financial information is even discussed at the ANC meetings additionally at our previous meeting Ms. Muhammad restricted every member of the community from participating in any open forum by just not having any. Without the opportunity given for the residents to confront the ANC about these important matters they leave no choice but for me a resident and registered voter of this ANC to respectfully request and insist your office take immediate action on these matters and conduct an audit without delay. Your office is the only way accountability will be restored by way of transparency back to the voters. Ms. Muhammad’s refusal to allow the voters of this ANC to be heard by skipping past the community engagement part of the agenda directly conflicts with the intended purpose of why the ANC’s have been established. Without this local participation from the voters these meetings are simply one way communication of only the information Ms. Muhammad would like heard which apparently does not include anything that may hold her accountable.
    I am confident that your office will find these matters of concern and will respect my right to know what is happening within the apparent confidential inner workings of my commission and that you will share my concerns. I urge your office to take action and report back to the voters of this ANC any inconsistencies or alarming findings in your investigation. We have the right and your office has the obligation and authority to force compliance and provide the transparency which puts accountability back into the hands of the voters.
    I very much appreciate your understanding and support in this matter and I look forward to your acknowledgement and expected plan of action your office plans to take in relation to this request. I will of course be keeping my fellow neighbors up to date with your updates.

    Respectfully,

    Tom Donohue

    ANC8A Resident

    Ward 8 Small Business Owner

    Donohue Launches www.recallinghollymuhammad.com

    Her reign of ignoring laws and having no accountability has ended with me. I will turn every stone keep every bit of pressure up using every DC city office at a residents disposal to publicly shame her and show her that she is no longer in control the control is coming back to every neighbor who wants and will have a voice.

    Holly has met her match. Her constituent Tom Donohue vows to bring accountability

    Holly has kicked out her own constituents and continues to refuse them admittance to all ANC Meetings. Holly has refused to comply by ignoring FOIA requests, Holly restricts public comments to only those who she allows to speak. Holly dropped all public comments from the last meeting restricting only the matters she wanted raised. ANC Meetings are intended to be the local place where the community can go to discuss communmity topics. It is a meeting for the community hosted by the ANC commissioners. Her reign of ignoring laws and having no accountability has ended with me. I will turn every stone keep every bit of pressure up using every DC city office at a residents disposal to publicly shame her and show her that she is no longer in control the control is coming back to every neighbor who wants and will have a voice. I suggest Holly begin to waive her white flag because she has become my sole attention in DC politics. Allow me to say that when a DC resident selling their home is considering Holly Muhammad I will personally see that my name and claims againts Holly are at the top of any Google listing. I’m done playing games. I am now in line with DC resources and by the power of the first amendment I will disclose Holly’s most deepest kept ANC Secrets and will not stop until accountability is brought back to ANC8A, until transparency is once again posted for each of my neighbors to read and until Holly Muhammad is no longer the Chair of my ANC but no longer an elected official. Holly I am no bully that bullies females I am your constituent with more power than the power you think your badge brings. Thats not being a bully thats being an informed voter.

    Tom Donohue
    8 year ANC8A Resident &
    Small Business Owner