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Thurs.: E-Day, postgame
posted at 2008-03-20 22:54 | Last modified 2008-03-21 10:38
Wow. That was surreal.
You’ve heard the expression, “You could have heard a pin drop.” Well, after the 109-to-5 vote, I think you actually could’ve, even at the back of the room, as Wright and his attorneys packed up their gear and walked grimly to the closest exit. On their heels was a Sergeant-at-Arms, looking just about as uncomfortable as humanly possible.
I caught that moment in my story tonight. If you missed it, it's here.
Most of us reporters followed Wright and his lawyers down the hall for an impromptu press conference downstairs. While the attorneys did most of the talking, Wright said a little – that his constituents don’t want him to resign, that they want him to run for re-election, and that he’s still “duly elected.” Hear that here.
Wright had more to say on the floor. For the first time today, he addressed the issue of the allegations against him before his fellow lawmakers. He says he's innocent, and he'll prove it in court.
He sounded contrite, reasonable, even persuasive - a completely different character than he’s played over the past few months. It wasn’t enough, but it was a darned good try.
Wright's floor speech on the censure amendment is here; you can hear his follow-up Q&A with Guilford Rep. Alma Adams, too.
Rumor mill
Is batting zero. Wright didn’t resign. He didn’t denounce anyone, either. Just about everyone showed up. The Legislative Black Caucus didn’t even meet, let alone unite behind Wright. So there you go.
What’s next
Irving Joyner says they’ll appeal Wright’s expulsion in court. In a previous ruling, the judge didn’t seem inclined to interfere in the workings of the legislative branch, but he did leave the door open for Wright to return if his rights were violated. Will this qualify? Joyner says there’s precedent for it, citing the cases of Julian Bond in GA and Adam Clayton Powell in NY.
Defense attorney Doug Harris says he’ll ask for a delay of a “few months” in Wright’s trial. It’s currently scheduled for March 31st, but he says he wants to wait till his client isn’t making headlines anymore.
Meantime, Wright has filed for reelection, and Joyner says his client will “campaign vigorously.” (Cheaply, too, I guess, given that he doesn’t have a campaign fund to work with.) The expulsion is only valid for the current legislative session, so if Wright wins, and he hasn’t been convicted of a felony (or is in appeals), he’s eligible to come back next January. If that happens, Speaker Joe Hackney says the House can elect not to seat him.
Hackney called today’s vote a “sad duty,” but said the House has the right and the responsibility to proceed on its own, regardless of what happens to Wright in his criminal trial: “It’s not just about him, it’s about protecting this institution.”
When I asked Hackney whether a not-guilty verdict would give him second thoughts, he said “Not a one.” Hear the whole exchange.
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