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Mon: Updates
posted at 2009-08-17 20:09 | Last modified 2009-08-17 21:07
Update 1. The Soles Saga
For those of you following this one, you might remember that Wilmington ABC affiliate WWAY ran a story last week that two local men, Allen Strickland and Stacey Scott, said they’d been questioned by the FBI “about molestation, about prostitution” in connection with longtime Columbus Democratic Senator RC Soles.
Soles wouldn't talk to WWAY about the story, but he had plenty to say in a lengthy interview with the Brunswick Beacon earlier in the week. And local NBC affiliate WECT reported Soles would represent Strickland in court the day after WWAY’s report came out.
Late Friday, the Columbus County DA asked the SBI to investigate Scott’s allegations that Soles had propositioned him 12 years ago, then paid him to keep quiet. But that same day, Strickland went on record with News14 saying nothing inappropriate ever transpired between him and Soles.
And today, Stacey Scott, the man who accused Soles of attempted molestion, recanted that accusation, telling the Fayetteville Observer he “was high” when he did the initial interview with WWAY almost a year ago.
"[Scott] said he had taken Zanex, Percocet, cocaine, alcohol and marijuana the day of the interview and was coerced into making the allegations by a family member who was upset with Soles for not helping another relative out of a legal jam.
"I barely remember the interview," Scott said Monday."
(“Zanex?” Really, Fay-O? Google’s ready when you are.)
Anyway, it’s anyone’s guess what the real story here is. Someone’s lying, someone’s paying, or someone’s leaning on someone else. However it works out, as I said Thursday, it ain’t pretty.
Update 2: The Gov’s Budget Cuts
I got this email Sunday from Perdue spokesman David Kochman regarding my story on the Governor's order to cut state spending by 5 percent:
1) The cuts don't apply to the classroom or Medicaid. However, public safety will see some reductions but at a lesser amount than other departments.
2) The Executive Order is absolutely not an indication that the budget isn't sound; rather, this step is to help the state carefully manage cash flow and will be revisited after the new revenue sources have had a chance to kick in.
As I said Friday, I totally understand the argument that spending has to be conservative until the new tax and fee hikes start bringing in more money. But I stand by my earlier query: why was this dumped late Friday afternoon? That’s generally when newsmakers publicize things they’d rather not see in the news. If this is really about responsible budget management, why not highlight the Governor’s fiscal prudence with a public release and press conference Friday morning?
Comments? Drop me a line.
