expulsion

The Dome's FAQs machine

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:55:43 -0400

Under the Dome has a new feature that's not so new.

Since we started the blog, we've had a feature called Frequently Asked Questions in which we provide concise, encylopedic answers to topical questions.

Some examples: What does the state labor commissioner do? How does a primary runoff work? What is the Queen City Curse? Who is on the Council of State? What is a catfish amendment? Who has been expelled from the legislature?

Though we now have answers to more than 40 questions, we haven't promoted this feature much.

That changed today, when we added a new widget to the right-hand column. It will list the most recently modified FAQ and give a brief description of the answer.

To read the fuller answer, click "Read more," or click "View all FAQs" to browse a complete list.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this new/old feature or any suggestions for other improvements to Under the Dome.

Wright due back in court Monday

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:23:17 -0400

Former Rep. Thomas Wright is scheduled to be back in court Monday.

Wright, a Democrat who represented part of the Wilmington area, has a procedural hearing in Wake Superior Court set for 10 a.m. The hearing relates to an outstanding felony charge of obstruction of justice, and it could result in a judge setting a trial date, said Assistant District Attorney David Sherlin, David Ingram reports.

"We do expect Representative Wright to be here," Sherlin said.

Wright, 52, is in Pamlico Correctional Institution, serving a prison term of at least five years and 10 months. A jury found him guilty in April of three counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Wright fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan and put $7,400 in charitable contributions in his own pocket, jurors found.

A grand jury in December also charged Wright with obstruction of justice. Investigators said he failed to report as much as $185,000 in campaign contributions, as required by state campaign-finance laws. Wright has said he did nothing wrong and that he is pleading not guilty to all charges.

In March, the N.C. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to expel Wright for violating ethics rules — the first expulsion in Raleigh since 1880. Wright, once among the House's most influential members, had refused to resign.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the plea.

Hackney on Wright conviction

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:35:38 -0400

Speaker Joe Hackney has released a statement on the conviction of former Rep. Thomas Wright:

"For many years, Thomas Wright was a champion for people who often couldn't help themselves, but that doesn't excuse him from having to follow the law. The House of Representatives appropriately expelled him for his unethical behavior. Now, separately, a jury has determined he behaved illegally. I regret that his legislative career ended this way, but I look forward to moving ahead in our chamber and making sure the people of District 18 get the representation they deserve."

Hughes to replace Wright in House

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:45:41 -0400

Sandra Spaulding Hughes will replace Thomas Wright in the state House.

The former Wilmington city councilwoman was named Thurday as the new representative in District 18, taking the place of Wright, who was expelled last month, reports the Wilmington Star-News.

The decision was made by a group of Democratic Party members from the district.

"I am elated," Hughes told the paper. "The community is now going to say we have someone in the position."

She was one of five candidates for the position, including former Wilmington Mayor Harper Peterson and chef and community activist Hollis Briggs.

Hughes and Briggs will face off again in the May primary.

Witnesses testify at Wright trial

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:27:07 -0400

A former state health official and a bank loan officer testified at Thomas Wright's trial Tuesday.

Torlen Wade, a former state health official, testified that he wrote a bogus letter on Wright's behalf that prosecutors say was used to secure a loan.

Wade said he only wrote the letter because Wright was a legislator.

"It was a very important project to Representative Wright," Wade told Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby. "He was very, very insistent about it."

Ronnie Burbank, who worked at the Wilmington bank that approved the loan, said he would not have made the loan if he knew the letter was false.

Wright's defense attorneys noted that Wright did not receive anything personally from the loan. (AP)

Wade also testified that it was not the first time he's been asked for a letter for a nonexistent grant. (Hunter's Tavern)

Wright seeks to overturn expulsion

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:13:34 -0400

Thomas Wright's lawyers have filed papers in Wake County Superior Court to get his seat back.

Irving Joyner argued that the state House of Representatives' vote to expel Wright was punishment without a trial.

He also argued that current House members didn't have standing to expel Wright because the allegations, if true, occurred in a previous legislative session.

Joyner asked Judge Paul Ridgeway to schedule a hearing immediately.

Three weeks ago, Ridgeway declined to block the House ethics committee from hearing the Wright case, saying it was not his job to interfere with the legislature. (AP)

Wright allies faced charges, too

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:54:40 -0400

The four House Democrats who voted against expelling Thomas Wright have also faced accusations.

Reps. Larry Womble and Earline Parmon, both Winston-Salem Democrats; Earl Jones, a Greensboro Democrat; and Mary McAllister, a Fayetteville Democrat; have all been accused of poor financial handling.

"Wright has been charged but he’s not been convicted of anything in court,” Womble said. "I'm not one to pre-judge. I’ve always been taught to wait and see and let due process work itself out."

Womble was indicted in 1991 on four counts of extortion after a corruption investigation that started when he was on the Winston-Salem Board of Aldermen. He was found not guilty in 1992.

Parmon was under suspicion when a charter school she founded, LIFT, had its license revoked. The state Department of Public Instruction said the school routinely mismanaged money.

Jones ran a nonprofit, the Guilford County Community Action Program, that was dinged by state auditors when it couldn't account for more than $700,000 in taxpayer money.

And McAllister was forced to pay a $16,294 fine last year after the State Board of Elections said she received a repayment for campaign loans she never made. (W-SJ)

Wright's expulsion

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:19:36 -0400

Audio of Wright's defense

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:58:26 -0400

Click below to hear Thomas Wright's words in his defense.

A transcript is also available here.

Thomas Wright's defense

Womble and Jeffus on their votes

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:43:52 -0400

Reps. Larry Womble and Maggie Jeffus explained their votes.

Womble, a Winston-Salem Democrat, voted for censure, and when that failed, against expulsion. He told the Associated Press he agreed with Thomas Wright's arguments.

"Not only has he not been convicted, but he has not had his day in court," Womble said.

Jeffus, a Greensboro Democrat, voted against censure, and when that failed, for expulsion.

She told Mark Binker of the Greensboro News & Record that she has sat next to Wright for at least two sessions.

"I felt like we might give that a chance and see. In my own mind I think censure and expulsion are both very serious and in the end would have the same kind of result," she said.