newsobserver.com projects - Governor's office finds no evidence - Comments

Re: Governor's office finds no evidence

Isaac136 — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:46:08 -0500

Geez, "Wayne," you figure it's "sour grapes" on the part of the newspaper because the newspaper was denied access to information that we are all entitled to? Do you even understand what Aesop's fable of the "sour grapes" was about?

If I understand you, and I'm not sure I do, you seem to be suggesting that the newspaper is, in effect pouting because the state's top executive is not honoring the spirit or letter of the state's law on open records.

Don't know about you, Wayne, but I'd kind of like to hear the governor answer a few questions about this.

Re: Governor's office finds no evidence

trebenson — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:51:47 -0500

I have run into this before with local officials. When looking at email records of public officials you would think you would find your own email sent the day before but not in most of the cases I've worked. One official had one side of a two sided email exchange, another only had spam in his email vault. And yet they all claim nothing had been deleted.

A common practice among savvy public officials is to create a hotmail or yahoo email box, separate and apart of their official email account to harbor secret exchanges.

But really, who is going to stop them? Better yet, who would ever punish them?

Re: Governor's office finds no evidence

FFC1304 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:51:07 -0500

I dont believe a word that comes out of Sleazy's office NOR his own mouth.
SUCH an inept 'leader' NC has never had prior to now. I hope you democrats are proud of this jerk.

Re: Governor's office finds no evidence

WayneUber — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:01:28 -0500

Is this all related to "sour grapes" because the N&O didn't get access to clemency records? Or is the N&O sore about something else?

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/sunshine/story/620782.html

... maybe. This reader thinks so.

Governor's office finds no evidence

bkrueger — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:56:08 -0500

An attorney for Gov. Mike Easley says he can't find any evidence that officials in the governor's office directed any state agency to "systematically delete and destroy email messages exchanged with the Governor's Office."

Reuben F. Young,, legal counsel to Easley, wrote today to Hugh Stevens, an attorney for The News & Observer, that he had conducted an investigation into allegations that members of Easley's staff had instructed state agencies to destroy e-mail messages exchanged with the governor's office.

Young said his investigation included discussions with the governor's staff, including the communications director, press secretary and deputy press secretary.

"I have concluded that there is absolutely no evidence to support your allegation," Young wrote, referring to a letter sent Wednesday by Stevens on behalf of The N&O.