Hackney: Prosecutors asked for ethics delay

House Speaker Joe Hackney said that the legislature held off on investigating Rep. Thomas Wright at the request of prosecutors.

At a press conference this afternoon, he said that the matter was referred "expeditiously and promptly" to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee as soon as allegations surfaced. 

"The investigation was begun promptly," he said.

However, he said that Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby asked the co-chairs of the committee that they put their work on hold so that it not interfere with his own investigation.

"While I was not a party to that decision on their part to do that, I do support it and think that it was correct," he said.

Still, Hackney said it rankled him to be criticized for holding off on the investigation.