Time heals some wounds, apparently.

In 2000, Democrat Mike Easley beat Republican Richard Vinroot in a rough and tumble gubernatorial campaign. They've rarely spoken or even seen each other in the years since, Jim Morrill reports.

But now Easley's son, Michael Jr., is working with his father's erstwhile rival at Vinroot's Charlotte law firm. The younger Easley, a law student at the University of North Carolina, is one of a handful of summer clerks at Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson.

He and Vinroot have hit it off, going to lunch at places such as the Diamond. Vinroot and his wife Judy have even talked about inviting Easley and other clerks to their home for dinner.

"He's a nice young man and his parents are nice people," Vinroot says. "I just happen to have a different political philosophy and we happened to bump into each other running for governor. He won and I lost."

Vinroot didn't want to comment on the Easleys' legal troubles. A federal grand jury in Raleigh is looking into free air trips the former governor took. Prosecutors have also interviewed the Fayetteville car dealer who loaned a 2000 GMC Yukon that was driven by Michael Jr.

The FBI issued a subpoena to the state Highway Patrol today, ordering the agency to produce all records related to private air travel of the Easley family.

The request is made as part of a grand jury investigation, according to the documents. The grand jury meets next week, according to the subpoena, Andy Curliss reports.

Besides seeking information about the private travels of former Gov. Mike Easley, his wife Mary Easley and his son Michael Easley Jr., the subpoena requests documents relating to:

* Payments made in exchange for the air travel.
* Communications with the Easley family regarding the private travel.
* Communications regarding public inquiries surrounding the air travel.
* The state Highway Patrol's records retention policy.
* The retention or destruction of records related to travel by the Easley family.

The News & Observer published a story on Saturday detailing private flights that the former governor took based on records Easley had kept secret while in office. Some flights were free, according to aircraft owners and pilots who flew him. Some were not reported on campaign disclosure reports, though the records show that they were campaign flights.

The records are held by the state Highway Patrol, which has a special unit to protect the governor. Easley and administration officials had said the records' release while he was in office would compromise his security.

In addition, the N&O showed in its report that there are gaps in the records and that other flights likely took place for which no records have been made available. Nothing has been provided for the entire year of 2005, for example. Patrol officials say they have scoured the unit's files and cannot locate any records other than those already provided.

Update: A second subpoena was served Friday at the patrol's headquarters and to Capt. Alan Melvin, who headed the unit for several years. Melvin was placed on administration duty as of 1 p.m. today, a patrol spokesman said. That means he will work only on administrative tasks. 

New records filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles shed light on what transpired in late March as the News & Observer began asking questions about two cars the Easley family had been driving but did not own.

One vehicle was a Honda Accord driven by Mary Easley, but owned by a Rick Hendrick dealership in Charlotte.

The other was a GMC Yukon driven by Mike Easley Jr., but owned by the dealership of Robert F. Bleecker in Red Springs.

The newspaper first posed questions in detail to Hendrick on March 25 and to the Easleys and Bleecker on March 26, Andy Curliss reports.

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Gov. Beverly Perdue was mum on the investigation of former Gov. Mike Easley's use of automobiles.

"I am seeing the same reports you are seeing and reading the same stores you are reading," Perdue said when asked about the stories during an impromptu news conference this afternoon. "I look forward to the facts being put out there."

Questions have been raised about automobiles that Easley's wife Mary and son Michael were provided by a Fayetteville car dealer, Rob Christensen reports.

Curious about the math on the SUV Mike Easley Jr. was driving?

Several readers have been following reports that the former governor's son and his campaign have made payments related to the use of the vehicle, Andy Curliss reports.

A breakdown shows Bleecker still has more money in the vehicle than what Easley or his campaign have paid him.

After the jump, the math.

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A Fayetteville car dealer who provided a vehicle for use by the family of former Gov. Mike Easley has been interviewed by federal authorities, his lawyer says.

Gardner Altman, corporate attorney for Robert F. Bleecker, confirmed today that Bleecker was cooperating with investigators:

"Bobby Bleecker has been advised by the U.S. Attorney's office that he is not the target of the grand jury investigation and that he is only a witness. The company has nothing to hide. Bobby...cooperated fully and truthfully because he sees no reason why he should not respond to any of their questions."

The News & Observer disclosed late last month that Michael Easley Jr., a UNC law student, was driving a 2000 GMC Yukon owned by one of Bleecker's dealerships. The former governor said the vehicle was part of a lease, but there were no records to support that.

Easley bought the Yukon on April 2, a week after The N&O asked about it.

Former Gov. Mike Easley was close friends with Rick Hendrick.

Easley crashed one of Hendrick's race cars, went to receptions at his races, and traveled on his racing team jet to his retreat in Florida.

Mary Easley has been driving a $30,000 Honda Accord that belongs to a Charlotte dealership owned by Hendrick. Mike Easley Jr. has been driving a 2000 GMC sport utility truck also owned by a dealer.

At the same time, Hendrick's racing businesses have received tax breaks for corporate jet fuel and other government help, sometimes with Easley's assistance.

In an e-mail, Easley wrote that he would not talk about his trip to Key West with Hendrick.

"I don't discuss personal business on personal vacation on personal time," he wrote. (N&O)

Someone at the governor's mansion never got their wine.

Amid the list of everyday oenophiles who never got their shipments from the now-bankrupt Carolina Wine Co. in Raleigh is this name:

M EASLEY
200 NORTH BLOUNT ST
RALEIGH, NC 27601

That would be the address of the governor's mansion, but the initial leaves open three possibilities: Former Gov. Mike Easley, his wife Mary or their son, Mike Jr., Sue Stock reports.

Chrissy Pearson, spokeswoman for current Gov. Beverly Perdue, said that all wine purchases at the governor's mansion are personal and not through state funds.

"They have no record and no way of knowing who would have made that purchase," she said.

The Easleys could not be reached for comment. Whichever member of the family it was can take comfort that they have good taste. Also listed on the filing was noted violinist Itzhak Perlman.

The company filed for bankruptcy Friday.

Mike Easley Jr. may take after his mother, too.

A caller pointed out to Dome this morning that a recent item about the son of former Gov. Mike Easley working in a prosecutor's office may have been a bit sexist.

In the item, we noted that Easley the younger was working for the Wake County district attorney and may "follow his dad's footsteps and become a prosecutor."

Mary Easley, née Pipines, worked as a prosecutor in Wilmington before marrying the governor.

As the caller notes, we could just as easily have said that Mike Easley Jr. may "follow in his mother's footsteps and become a prosecutor."

Dome regrets not thinking of that ourselves.

UNEASY STREET: Anyone whose salary is paid by the state government may need to start considering a Plan B. Gov. Beverly Perdue asked for another round of proposed budget cuts this week, and the suggestions that came back included state aid to such sacred cows as "The Lost Colony" drama and the High Point Furniture Market.

JOB RE-SHUFFLING: Fred Aikens' career in constituent services was short — real short. The former Democratic candidate for state auditor and longtime fiscal analyst was hired by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan last week, and then let go the next day. Hagan's state political director, Muthoni Wambu, was also let go. Hagan is mum on the reasons.

MARRIAGE BAN: Proponents of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage are trying again. They held a press conference this week to promote a bill that would call for a referendum, but expectations are low. Senate leader Marc Basnight assigned the bill to a committee that hasn't met since 2001.

IN OTHER NEWS: Damon Circosta, named head of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, skateboards to the legislature. ... Former Gov. Mike Easley is starting a part-time job promoting early college programs for Bill Gates' private foundation. His son is following in his footsteps at an internship with the Wake County prosecutor. ... State legislators are considering a number of perks for members of the military and veterans, including free visits to state museums, parks and the U.S.S. North Carolina. That should help with recruitment efforts.