Gov. Mike Easley's chief legal counsel today declined to comment on the letter he wrote this week saying that "absolutely no evidence" exists to support a former public affairs director's claim that the governor's communications staff directed public information officials in executive branch agencies to destroy e-mails after sending them to the governor's office.

In a brief interview, Chief Legal Counsel Reuben F. Young declined to say whether the governor's press aides had denied telling the agency spokespeople to kill e-mails, or what he meant by saying there was no evidence it happened, reports Dan Kane.

Young repeatedly referred all questions to the governor's communications staff.

"I understand your question and I'm not giving you a hard time here," Young said. "I just want you to understand my response and that is I will refer you to the press office."

More after the jump.

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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.