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Immunity a key question

Immunity is a big deal at State Board of Elections hearings.

Next week, when the board holds hearings into the campaign finance activity of former Gov. Mike Easley, a key question for observers is which, if any, witnesses are granted immunity.

Immunity of course, would prevent prosecutors from charging witnesses with any crimes they testify about. But it would also help ensure that a witness actually has something to say, besides invoking the Constitutional right against self-incrimination. We don't know whether anyone will take the Fifth, but we wouldn't be surprised if it comes up a time or two.

Expect the board and prosecutors to be in lockstep on who gets immunity. That's a lesson learned the hard way during the Meg Scott Phipps hearings in 2002.

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The board was investigating irregularities in Phipps campaign finance account. Prosecutors gave immunity to two witnesses who admitted giving Phipps illegal campaign contributions, in part to help sway her decision on awarding the State Fair midway contract.

The Board found that Phipps was guilty of "grossly negligent" violations of campaign finance law. It issued $130,000 in penalties.

After the hearing, federal and state investigators opened a probe into Phipps. The immunity agreements hampered those efforts, Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said then.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said at the time.

Investigators eventually found evidence that Phipps had extorted thousands from carnival companies. Phipps was sent to federal prison and several of her aides and associates were convicted.

The exercise likely cemented a partnership between state and federal authorities on issues such as who should be immune from prosecution.

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Re: Immunity a key question

Submitted by squireofhr on October 23, 2009 - 8:17pm.

I still think phipps is a good woman

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Re: Immunity a key question

Submitted by water_warrior on October 23, 2009 - 6:42pm.

The NC BoE Easley investigation is the equivalent to the Keystone Cops giving Easley a parking ticket while he’s driving a stolen car w/ the front, back seat, & trunk overloaded w/ dead bodies from toxic water.

Millions of NC citizens, soldiers, Marines, & their families who are sick & dying from toxic water want Gov’s Hunt, Easley, & Perdue indicted by Federal authorities for obstruction of justice & misappropriation of Clean Water Trust Funds in the “Sewergate” & the BRAC Scams.

Gov’s Hunt, Easley, & Perdue cover-up of “Sewergate” includes the PCS Mine running an illegal toxic waste dump that has contaminated the Castle Hayne Aquifer which is killing Marines & family members & over permitting & importation of out of state municipal sludge to dilute medical waste like Lab Corp & Burlington which is killing people from the VA to Fort Bragg.

Millions want justice for ‘Sewergate,’ the largest corruption scandal & cover-up in US history.

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Re: Immunity a key question

Submitted by water_warrior on October 23, 2009 - 6:41pm.

Janet, Sorry I missed you when I dropped the Freedom of Information Request to Nick Bryne for details of all the investments of the NC State Employees Trust Fund and details of all the “Sewergate” General Statutes 162 Water and Sewer notices of mismanagement & misappropriations of Clean Water Trust Funds, like Bay River & Western Bay River Sewer.

You seem to be focusing only on going forward with what is left of the NC State Employee’s Trust Fund rather than concentrating on the over 20 missing $20 billion dollars. Waterfront Sportsman Wall Street & Finance Expert estimates the NC State Employee Trust Fund to now less than $40 billion.

Your staff seemed to be having a hard time finding the docs. As soon as you give them up, WFS will let you know where the missing 20 billion went.
Try Sara Lang, at Walter Daltons 919-733-0098 lt.gov@nc.gov. She probably took them with her, like Dare O’Conner took the Bay River Sewer File from Les Merritt’s to Larry Leake’s.
waterfrontsportsman.biz

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