The orders to delete e-mails were first made public in March 2008 by Debbie Crane, a former public information officer for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Easley ordered that Crane be fired following a series of stories in The N&O about his administration's mismanagement of the state's mental health system, Michael Biesecker reports.
In response, Deputy Press Secretary Seth Effron, acting as Easley's spokesman, denied any e-mails were deleted and called Crane "dishonest, untruthful and insubordinate."
In her deposition taken last week, Communications Director Sherri Johnson said Effron's disparaging comments about Crane were actually dictated by Easley.
"The governor dictated it word for word and ordered that it be sent out. And Seth was the one who had to — to give it out," Johnson said. "Seth was the vehicle, but the governor is the one who — he was the mouthpiece, but he was...not the speaker."
Crane told Dome Wednesday she felt vindicated by testimony from Press Secretary Renee Hoffman, who said she was ordered to tell public information officers to delete e-mail messages.
"Being called a liar by Mike Easley is a badge of honor," she said.
Effron, for his part, said he had no reason to believe Crane was dishonest or untruthful.
Effron and Johnson are still public information officers in state government.
Comments
fact is fact....sleazy and
February 5, 2010 - 1:16pm — myfowlerfact is fact....sleazy and co.(wife included) are going to reep what they sew. the state sucks for letting this go on and on, the feds. are draging their feet,but there is the ultimate judge.....lucifer get ready for some slim from the nc state gov. they'll fit right in.
Public Information
February 5, 2010 - 5:43am — dlhertzbergPublic information, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Professional Pseudonyms, what do all these things have in common? When it comes to healing and medicine, it's safety first, when it comes to Public information, The Department of Health and Human Services, and Professional Pseudonyms, it's about money, power, and denial of reality. I know it's hard to make this stuff up. I know there is a milligram of truth per ounce of pink cloud delusion. I can tell the media is playing make-believe from the headline to the, "Yea, that's the ticket," end of the story. Don't waste too many pages on witch hunts. The names loose all meaning first then the words, sentences, paragraphs and so on. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Public Woman Narcotic Transfer Division, Medicine 0 : Ignoramus' 1
Hey, anyone see Easleys out and about? restaurants?
February 4, 2010 - 6:02pm — BitterEXdemocratDo they continue to see and be seen around Rawleigh?
Chickens coming home to roost
February 4, 2010 - 5:14pm — Joseph_de_MaistreTo borrow from the esteemed Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Raleigh's chickens are coming home to roost!
Just print a quadruple sized headline EASLEY IS A KNOWN LIAR &..
February 4, 2010 - 2:39pm — FlolakeI believe this article here is getting as close as possible before we get to the coup de grâce. Any minute now, I hope you and millions more of us get your wish granted...
"Being called a liar by Mike Easley is a badge of honor..."
February 4, 2010 - 2:30pm — FlolakeIndeed it is...
No end to the ugliness
February 4, 2010 - 1:55pm — NotLiberalThe only thing that surprises me about Easley at this point is that he has somehow managed not to end up in jail yet.
My hero
February 4, 2010 - 1:42pm — countriboyDebbie Crane you are my hero, girl. Gonna right a song about you tonight.
Gov mike easley a liar
February 4, 2010 - 1:41pm — sambosSo is Mark Sanford, but I find it impossible to do anything about it, since there are so many spineless patsies right up there with him. It appears that once in office get all the dirt on the others, then you can pretty well do what you want
McGuireWoods ???
February 4, 2010 - 1:22pm — GSingI don't get McGuireWoods Consulting/law firm keeping him as a senior adviser. Who in their right mind would use Easley, or for that manner, the firm for anything? A mere conversation would probably get you an invite to the grand jury. If you want a good laugh, read his bio @ http://www.mwcllc.com/people?firstchar=E&peoplesearch=1
They kind of left a few things out.
Time for Personal Legal Action??
February 4, 2010 - 1:13pm — Fedup09It is difficult for an employee of the state to exhibit the integrity and honesty that is so needed by the system. Many times, such employees are lost through disillusion and frustration with a system that skirts the very regulations it creates. I hope that the law provides an avenue for Ms. Crane's personal legal action against Mr. Easley to compensate for the injustice she has suffered. It is inconceivable that individuals associated with this character assassination may still be on the state's payroll.
Thanks again Ms. Crane for taking a stand for the citizens of North Carolina.
As others have noted, how do
February 4, 2010 - 12:55pm — fredwombleAs others have noted, how do Effron and Johnson still remain employed by the State of NC? They are complicit in the lies of Mike Easley and the only thing that MIGHT justify their keeping their jobs -- much less staying out of jail -- is their truthful testimony before the grand jury. And it appears Johnson is at best in a "she said, she said" in terms of honesty. Mike and Mary Easley, prepare to get acquainted with the other side of the justice system.
easley is a liar
February 4, 2010 - 12:49pm — johnl1I find it interesting that it took christensen ttwelve years to figure this out!
Change "resign" to fired
February 4, 2010 - 12:32pm — fiestamomIf there are any honest democrats in higher office, that democrat (cough cough Bev Perdue) should FIRE Effron and Johnson.
resign??
February 4, 2010 - 12:01pm — holtonfbThey should not resign.. they should be rewarded for their honesty...
The Dishonorable Mouth Easley
February 4, 2010 - 11:54am — bigsurmacAs one fortunate to be a neighbor to Debbie Crane, we are and have been in awe of her forbearance in dealing with the former Chief Certifiable Rectal Orifice, aka Mike the Mouth.
The State of North Carolina at the minimum owes her a formal apology and compensation (With the latter charged back to "Mike the Mouth."]
Nawth and South Carolina voters -- indeed the electorate of the entire country -- should understand from the official and personal misconduct of two governors revealed within the past seven months, that the time has come for sweeping anti-corruption legislation.
Official offices for sale and used to conceal personal misconduct are an old Southern tradition.
This tradition must be terminated.
Aggressively racist politicians who secretly have one or more "extra" mixed race families with "inferior" minority women; Corrupt politicians who use their office to fatten their wallets; Corrupt politicians who use the cover of office to financially support international sexual affairs and unexplainable absence from duties; Corrupt politicians who abuse official power to fatten friends' pockets and defraud taxpayers; Corrupt politicians who arrange grossly overpaid-paid "positions" for family members -- through high-ranking state employees clearly lacking Debbie Crane's honesty and integrity; Corrupt politicians who blithely accept campaign donations from people seeking help with legislation and regulation;
These elected and appointed "self help" clowns need replacing, probably with pre-arranged career redirection making license plates or working in the prison laundry. Although such activities may require skills beyond, even far above, their real qualifications.
Make this "easley" on the finances
February 4, 2010 - 11:46am — SeaOwlPlease, someone, somewhere, immediately shut off any kind of money this crook is getting from NC.
Do NOT try him. STOP the multi-year investigation NOW. You're simply adding to the losses by paying lawyers to do nothing. What is the bottom line accomplishment of this. Easley in jail for a year starting probably in 2015? Maybe?
Just print a quadruple sized headline EASLEY IS A KNOWN LIAR & THIEF on the front page of the N&O along with an huge photo of him.
The END! He lives with it. We all move on.
re: Easley is the liar
February 4, 2010 - 11:46am — uBnicewheelofvoter: Right on!
Re Effron and Johnson resigning
February 4, 2010 - 11:43am — cbwms4677It won't happen, but I couldn't agree with you more that they should. What else have they passed on that they knew were lies, especially about individuals, either with Easley or since? I would question any announcement they would make. No accountability ANYWHERE in NC or Washington.
Easley is the liar
February 4, 2010 - 11:37am — wheelofvoterDebbie Crane is a hero. Please put up a statue in her honor on Easley's properties (after he goes to jail). Mike is a bad human being. He is a thug and it is taking the Feds to fix what the State of NC was quite content to turn their backs on. So many good people lost their jobs standing up to these thugs. In fact, those of you who remained may want to look in the mirror. Easley is a liar. He took anti-depressants and avoided the public because it is difficult to put on a show when you live with the rats, including Staci Meyer (now an Industry Commissioner) and Libba Evans. How dare this state for allowing this corruption to happen and to allow itself to be raped, pillaged, and mis-guided. All of you state employees who had knowledge and turned a blind eye to these criminals are sentenced to keep working for State Government for the rest of your lives!! By definition you are PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is people like Debbie Crane who prevent the next Hitler from really getting their roots in. Unlike Debbie, apparently, almost no one goes into higher public office with the noble intentions of trying to help other people or let alone represent them properly. These politicians must now be considered guilty from the get-go (sorry Bev). The system must be re-designed to make sure good wins over evil and not wait so long to make things right. I know Easley's fortune has tanked as Edwards federal fortunes fell out of favor. There is no one to save the thugs now!
all attorneys are trained as Liars
February 4, 2010 - 11:32am — tboard47Why should this surprise you?
We are pumping out a bunch of trained liars from our Law schools and putting them in positions of power that allows for this stuff to happen.
Furthermore, we continue to put these amoral people in these
positions- to include judgeships, to the exclusion of other more reputable people
what a bunch of dummies we are
We get what we deserve people
Please Resign
February 4, 2010 - 11:25am — mmclendonEffron and Johnson should resign immediately as they cannot be trusted to serve the people. Why are they still public information officers in state government?
check and balance breakdown
February 4, 2010 - 11:16am — fishtownealleyCongratulations to Crane in finally publicly being vindicated for the slam from on high of her character. But where is the protection from this type of abuse of power? We've always believed it happens, but how can a system be installed to prevent it and make inherently dishonest officials behave honestly?
sleazy easley
February 4, 2010 - 11:14am — j1c2kpHmmmm can Debbie sue the governor?? He lied, called her dishonest.
The "dirt" has not even
February 4, 2010 - 11:14am — robertsThe "dirt" has not even begun to be turned over and "ugly" is going to be known as........"UGGGGGGGLIEST".
Whoo-hoo!
February 4, 2010 - 11:08am — The_Nags_HeadNow it's getting ugly, folks. Get some popcorn and pull up a chair!
Thanks to the N&O for running this down. Keep after 'em!