Trying to Separate Fact From Fiction in the D.C. Sex Scandal. Does It Extend Beyond Sexually Oriented Parties? Challenges for Investigators.

STATter 911 has been working over the last week trying to figure out the scope of the D.C. Fire and EMS sex scandal. It isn’t easy. There are multiple agencies looking at multiple allegations in a highly charged political environment.

Since Matt Cella’s story in The Washington Times last Friday, the rumors have been flying. From experience with how these firehouse rumors can take on a life of their own, it has been even more important as a reporter to figure out the source that your source is using to gather his or her information.

It would be nice to have someone in authority go on the record and say these are the specific charges and this is how we are handling the situation. But in Washington, probably more so than most cities, for a variety of political and bureaucratic reasons, these type of things are handled by leaks.

STATter 911 has been on the receiving end of a lot of the leaking that is going on in this story. It is not something I am complaining about. But I will say this has been one of the toughest stories in some time to get a handle on what is really going on.

In recent days, talking at length with even more sources close to the investigation, I have come up with this little primer on where, the best I can tell, things stand at the moment. All of this information is coming from sources who are involved in the probe one way or another, but are not authorized to talk on-the-record about the investigation.

Both STATter 911 and The Washington Times have been reporting that criminal charges are imminent against the former fire sergeant who is accused of exposing himself at the quarters of Engine 8 at the end of July. City officials were hoping to announce this arrest at the Wednesday press conference in front of Engine 27. Sources tell STATter 911 this did not happen because both the U.S. Attorney’s office and the D.C. Attorney General’s office are not satisfied with the evidence, at this point, to go ahead with either felony or misdemeanor charges. This, of course, could change quickly as the investigation continues.

Based on what investigators have been able to uncover so far, a lot of sources are wavering a bit on the original claim, that in the end, they will determine a house of prostitution was being run out of Engine 27 or any other D.C. firehouse.

What they have uncovered are a group of firefighters and EMS workers, including lieutenants and captains who have been involved in a somewhat formal sex ring. According to the sources, investigators have identified two women, one on the fire side, the other an EMS civilian, who have organized groups of women who have provided sexually oriented entertainment at various parties. These are often bachelor parties, birthday parties and poker parties. Parties have been held in the halls of suburban fire stations, hotels and even on a boat. The investigators say the procuring of sexual favors has extended beyond these parties.

Many, but not all of these women are DC FEMS employees. Many, but not all of the men are DC FEMS employees.

Investigators have not ruled out that any sexual activities have occurred at D.C. fire stations.

For the investigators there are some obstacles, including getting enough evidence and leverage to force any of the participants to cooperate. They are also going to have to find the clear evidence that these were anything more than, as some of the participants are claiming, just parties for boys to meet girls.

There is still the strong feeling from the sources we have been dealing with that this is an ugly situation and that there is activity that should not be part of a modern fire and EMS department. Still, proving it all for criminal or internal charges is going to be a challenge.

As one of the sources told STATter 911, “if, at this point, we had really solid evidence, there would be a lot of people on administrative leave right now”.