Thomas Wright

bniolet — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:41:17 -0500

Appeals panel upholds Wright conviction

mbieseck — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:48:48 -0500

The N.C. Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of former state Rep. Thomas E. Wright on three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses for taking out a fraudulent bank loan and depositing contributions intended for charity into his personal bank account.

Wright, a Democrat from Wilmington, was sentenced in April 2008 to more than seven years in prison. Earlier, he was kicked out of the N.C. House of Representatives by his peers for ethical violations, becoming the first legislator to suffer that fate since 1880.

In his appeal, Wright, 54, argued the trial judge erred by denying him a motion to delay his court date, by allowing the deputy director of the state Board of Elections to testify about campaign finance violations and in the instructions given to the jurors who convicted him.

The three-judge appeals panel ruled Tuesday that Wright's complaints were without merit and that he "received a fair trial, free from error."

Wright, who currently resides at Pamlico Correctional Institution as Inmate No. 1073692, could not immediately be reached for comment.

NC, meet McQueen

bniolet — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:15:02 -0400

THE WHOLE TRUTH: McQueen Campbell is one of 30 witnesses who have been subpoened in the State Board of Elections inquiry into the campaign finance of former Gov. Mike Easley. Campbell had a close relationship with Easley and will figure prominently in the hearings this week. (N&O)

ADD IT UP: In five years, administrative costs at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics grew 46 percent. The school has added 70 students during that period, and 24 teachers. But it has added only two administrators. Much of the increased administrative expense is in pay raises. (N&O)

WRIGHT APPEAL: Former state Rep. Thomas Wright's appeal of his fraud convictions is scheduled to be heard by the N.C. Court of Appeals next month. The former lawmaker is a prisoner in Pamlico County north of New Bern. (Wilmington Star-News)

A history of elections hearings

bniolet — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:49:48 -0400

The State Board of Elections will convene hearings into the campaign finance activities of former Gov. Mike Easley.

The stakes for Easley will be high. Over the last decade, the board has established itself as a first step in corruption investigations. The board's hearings helped lead to the downfall of an Agriculture Commissioner, House member and House Speaker.

1998: Hog farmers and Republican House leaders

2002: Meg Scott Phipps

2006: Jim Black

2007: Mary McAllister

2007: Thomas Wright

2009: Mike Easley

Look for plenty of coverage, analysis, pictures and video next week here at Dome, at newsobserver.com and on the new Investigations blog, which launches Sunday. This weekend watch for stories in The News & Observer.

Board uncovered Wright scheme

bniolet — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:36:31 -0400

By the time the State Board of Elections began a hearing about Rep. Thomas Wright, it had a reputation.

Within the previous year the board had put former Speaker Jim Black on the path to federal prison and fined former Rep. Mary McAllister $15,000 for problems with her campaign finances.

There were plenty of big revelations in the hearing of Wright, a Wilmington Democrat and ally of Black. The board found that Wright spent more than $200,000 in campaign contributions for personal use.

The board unearthed a phony nonprofit that then bought a building in Wilmington. The organization persuaded a state official to falsely tell the sellers the purchase would be supported by a state grant.

Wright refused to testify in his elections board hearing, invoking his right against self-incrimination.

By the time the board was done, it was pretty clear that Wright was caught.

The ensuing criminal investigation landed Wright in state prison where he is serving up to eight years for fraud and obstruction of justice.

Elections board to hear Easley case

bniolet — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:58:56 -0400

Former Gov. Mike Easley will be the subject of public hearings later this month as part of an ongoing state elections board investigation into questionable activity by the Easley campaign and the state Democratic Party, according to the board's chairman, Larry Leake.

The hearings will begin Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. and could last a week, J. Andrew Curliss reports.

Leake said the hearings will deal with evidence of alleged campaign law violations — and that no one should assume there was any wrongdoing by Easley, the state party or his campaign just because hearings will be held.

"The purpose of the hearings is to find the truth as to what did occur," Leake said.

A spokesman for Easley had said previously that Easley, a Democrat who left office in January after serving eight years, did not think any hearings were necessary.

The hearings will give Easley a chance to publicly appear under oath and answer questions surrounding his campaign. Easley has communicated only through lawyers, spokesmen or written statements since reports in The News & Observer this spring detailed the use of cars and secret flights provided for Easley but for which he did not pay.

Cooper: We've investigated Democrats

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:31:55 -0400

A spokeswoman is defending Attorney General Roy Cooper.

In an e-mail to Dome, public information officer Noelle Talley said that the attorney general's office won't comment on any current or potential investigation.

Cooper has been criticized by Republicans who think he should be more vocal about recent news reports about former Gov. Mike Easley's potential violations of campaign finance laws.

Talley noted that Cooper has investigated a number of high-profile Democrats.

"During Attorney General Cooper's tenure, his lawyers and SBI agents have investigated more than 500 public corruption cases, including Jim Black, Thomas Wright, Meg Scott Phipps and Frank Ballance," she wrote.

She added that the department has often worked with other prosecutors.

"Although we have no original prosecution authority, our Department frequently works with federal authorities and local district attorneys to bring charges against elected and appointed officials," she wrote. "The Attorney General can serve as a Special Prosecutor when requested by a local district attorney."

Previously: Senate Republican leader calls for special prosecutor.

Hagan: New USAs in a few months

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:13:57 -0400

The question North Carolina Democrats whisper in the halls is: when are the Republican U.S. attorneys going to be replaced?

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan says the answer is pretty soon, Rob Christensen reports.

Hagan, the Democrat freshman, said she hopes to recommend three new U.S. attorneys for North Carolina in the coming months.

"I would like to get some names fairly soon and make some recommendations," Hagan said in an interview. "I would certainly think by spring or early summer we could have nominees. The timing has a lot do with the president."

She has appointed a panel, headed by former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell to advise her on potential nominees for both federal prosecutors and federal judgeships. Hagan said the group held its first meeting Tuesday.

More after the jump.

State pay cuts must go?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:25:48 -0400

Joe Sinsheimer is back consulting, and his newest client is the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

Sinsheimer said the association hired him this month to help them respond to the many changes expected as Gov. Beverly Perdue and lawmakers hammer out a budget that is expected to include major cuts, Dan Kane reports.

He said he will help the association with communications strategies, but he will not be lobbying governmental officials. He declined to say what SEANC is paying him.

"State employees need to sift through all of the changes that are coming their way, and figure out how they can respond, how they can work with the state to improve service delivery and maintain service delivery," Sinsheimer said. "So they are feeling that given the magnitude of sea change in front of them, they wanted an extra pair of hands to help."

More after the jump.

Bill would add 1898 riots to curriculum

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:50:36 -0500

A bill would mandate North Carolina schools teach about the 1898 Wilmington race riots.

Introduced by Sen. Julia Boseman, a New Hanover Democrat, the bill orders the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to create teaching materials and provide workshops on the subject.

The idea was first proposed by the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission, which issued a report in 2006.

A previous bill proposed by former Rep. Thomas Wright did not pass in part because of an estimated cost of $200,000.

"It might be an unfortunate part of our history, but it's part of our history, and our students deserve to know about it," Boseman said. (WS-N)