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Marion Barry Writes of 'Power, Attraction and Drugs' in New Memoir

Washington D.C.'s former mayor Marion Barry released a new memoir, "Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr.," that details his work in civil rights, but goes light on his controversies.

Washington D.C.'s former mayor Marion Barry released a new memoir, Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr., which details his early life and his work in civil rights, but goes light on his controversies, according to a review by the Washington Post

The 336-page autobiography goes over his most public explanation of a January 1990 drug bust, in which he was arrested and charged for possession of crack cocaine at a hotel in downtown D.C. He also speaks of his relationship with long-time friend Rashida Moore, a model, who played as an informant to the FBI that night. 

Mike Debonis of the Washington Post writes:

Barry’s account of the bust is peppered with claims that are questionable or demonstrably untrue. While Barry suggests he never smoked crack cocaine previously, Moore said in court that Barry had smoked crack on numerous prior occasions and had given her money to buy it. And the night of the bust, Barry told Moore, “I don’t smoke no more, honey,” according to law enforcement recordings.

Barry also accuses the FBI of tipping off the news media to the bust before it took place and orchestrating the release of the sting videotape: “How else could you explain how so many media people had gotten a hold of it so fast? It was all over the news before I had even arrived home that night.”

Read the full story here
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_

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(Photo: Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times /Landov)

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