Subscribe | Subscriber Services | Subscriber Rewards

Secretary of State investigates Beason

Former lobbyist Don Beason is being investigated.

In a four-page statement filed in Wake County Superior Court, a special agent with the N.C. Secretary of State's lobbying compliance division wrote that he thinks Beason directed some of the 24 groups and companies for which he and his son lobbied in 2007 to include inaccurate information on disclosure forms.

"I have discovered a pattern of under reporting of the lobbyist compensation," agent John M. Lynch wrote. "This under reporting is often done at the instruction of the lobbyist without any written or substantial justification."

The agent said Beason made one request of the Albemarle Mental Health Center, a regional facility in Elizabeth City.

State law treats many reporting violations as misdemeanors.

The affidavit was filed in mid-March in Wake County seeking a judge's help in getting records about Beason from Progress Energy, one of his requests. (N&O)

You must be logged in to post a comment on this blog. If you already have an N&O online user account, click here to log in. Otherwise, click here to register (it's free!).

Re: Secretary of State investigates Beason

Submitted by CitizenOpinionated on April 28, 2009 - 11:35am.

What, if any, role could or does the Attorney General have in such a matter?

» login to post comments

Re: Why isn't he in jail

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 28, 2009 - 11:08am.

Keep in mind that the court of public opinion has much different standards than a legal case that would almost certainly be appealed. In addition, many of the things that may upset you the most were not against the law at the time.

— RTB

» login to post comments

Re: Why isn't he in jail

Submitted by PoliticalJunkie on April 28, 2009 - 10:46am.

Is it possible that he received immunity from prosecution in return for cooperating with their case against Black?

I'd certainly hope not. He is as culpable as any one other than Black, didn't you report that he had essentially an open tab on his credit card for legislative leadership at various Raleigh restaurants and bars?

» login to post comments

Re: Why isn't he in jail

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 28, 2009 - 10:10am.

That's a question better answered by the Wake County district attorney, but my general understanding was that it was not an air-tight case because of the length of time since the loan and some haziness on the legal arguments. Beason was prosecuted successfully on a weapons charge, however.

— RTB

» login to post comments