Document Actions
Black's Bribery Plea
posted at 2007-02-21 01:02 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
What a day. What a week. What a mess.
Sorry it’s taken so long to post, but it takes a while to turn courtroom audio into pretty radio. On the other hand, if Tuesday’s any indication, I might be getting lots more practice soon. You can hear my story here.
Not again…
Former House Speaker Jim Black pleaded guilty (sort of) Tuesday in state court to two felony counts of bribery and obstructing justice. In short, he “agreed to be sentenced” for having given former Forsyth Republican Michael Decker $58 K plus to change parties and vote for him as speaker in 2003, thereby keeping Black in power for another two years. (Given the kind of fundraising power the gavel gave Jim Black, were his actions not illegal, you might say it was a pretty good trade-off.) The state’s court filing is here. You can find a brief synopsis at the Charlotte Observer.
(Sort of) guilty?
What Black entered was an Alford plea, which some say is lawyer-speak for having it both ways – that is, you’re not admitting anything, but you ARE admitting the state could probably prove you did, so you’d like to cut a deal. Black's deal is a pretty good one, too – immunity in exchange for cooperation, testimony, etc. Makes you wonder what investigators expect he’ll tell them. Bell and Black had no comment. A lot of folks on Jones Street are in no hurry to find out.
IHOP?
Yep, it’s another bathroom story. Apparently Black and Decker (the jokes just write themselves, don’t they?) struck their “vote for sale” deal in the loo at the Salisbury IHOP. You can hear SBI Agent Myers explain it here. The Red Roof Inn in Raleigh played a key role, too. Do these cultural landmarks matter? Legally, no, but details like that are just irresistible.
Where’s the cash?
In support of their obstruction of justice charge, state investigators made the argument that Black used some of the cash he admitted last week he took from chiropractors to pay off Decker for his vote. Black vehemently denies this. But no one – including Black’s attorney Ken Bell - seems to know where the cash went. My guess? The IRS will figure it out. They always do.
Responses
You’ll undoubtedly be surprised to hear that NC chiropractors were stunned to learn about Black’s plea today. So were Dems - or so we surmise. While NC Atty Gen Roy Cooper was quick to weigh in to congratulate his SBI investigators, and even quicker to turn the case into a case study supporting his current legislative agenda, other party leaders didn't register any immediate reaction. Back at the Leg, Speaker Hackney wouldn’t even step out of his office to offer a “no comment” to us waiting reporters – he sent out Julie Robinson with the message instead. House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman didn’t return calls, either. And from Easley? Nothing. But keep reading to find out why.
What’s next?
That’s anyone’s guess. State Elections director Gary Bartlett told me today it isn’t over, and he ought to know. Colon Willoughby says the same thing. So does Ken Bell.
In other news…
Ready for prime-time?
Maybe not...but Gov Easley’s Monday night speech went straight to the cable channel of choice for political junkies. The 2007 State of the State speech will be broadcast Wednesday evening on CSPAN 2. (Maybe that’s why Easley didn’t mention the House corruption scandal.)
So what’s he running for? Anyone want to start a (non-gambling and strictly legal) pool on it? More on that tomorrow.
Comments? Drop me a line.
