Hearing starts with closed session

The State Board of Elections opened a hearing into the campaign finance activity of former Gov. Mike Easley.

Board of Elections chairman Larry Leake called the hearing to order right at 11 a.m., recognized the attorneys representing the various parties involved in the case. Leake then moved the board into a closed session to discuss how to proceed with its criminal inquiry.

David Long, a lawyer for Easley's campaign, rose to question whether Leake meant to call the hearing "criminal."

"The fact that this board is considering a hearing and an inquiry does not in any way suggest or mean that anybody has done anything wrong and any inference to that effect based on the existence of this inquiry or my statements would be erroneous," Leake said.

Leake said that he did mean to say "criminal," but noted that the fact that a hearing was underway did not mean anyone was guilty of a crime.

Easley was not in the hearing room Monday and is not expected to attend regularly.

McQueen Campbell, pictured above left, sat in the front row, drawing looks, camera clicks and murmuring. Campbell has figured prominently in the questions about Easley's campaign finances. And he may be called to testify today.