Former Gov. Mike Easley is likely in more trouble after a landmark ruling from the NC Court of Appeals in a case involving former Rep. Thomas Wright’s diversion of campaign money into his personal bank account. The unanimous decision opens the door for state prosecutors to levy felony charges of obstruction of justice against candidates and lawmakers who intentionally hide substantial information that should be disclosed. Testimony indicates that Easley’s campaign failed to report about $60,000 in air travel and charged his campaign for home repair costs that were paid by his insurance policy. According to the court’s ruling, “obstruction of justice” goes beyond interfering with matters related to a criminal case to deceitful reporting to a private or public agency administering “public or legal justice.” The court agreed with prosecutors that Wright “knowingly filed with the
Thursday, August 5, 2010
[State Board of Elections] false campaign finance reports with the intent of misleading the [SBOE] and the voting public about the sources and uses of his campaign contributions.” That action, the court ruled, “concealed illegal campaign activity from public exposure and possible investigation.” The ruling, coupled with the new felony charge for violating campaign contribution limits, should give everyone involved with campaign money pause for reflection.
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