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Wed. Update: Not one, but two...
posted at 2007-12-12 15:37 | Last modified 2007-12-12 16:14
House Speaker Joe Hackney announced this afternoon that there will be not one but two legislative investigations into New Hanover Dem Thomas Wright. The two-track probe is the result of changes in state ethics laws, and it's a little confusing, but here's what I gleaned from this afternoon's press conference.
Investigation 1: At the time Wright was alleged to have committed the crimes he was indicted for, the ethics law in effect was much narrower. That law gave the House authority to police only "violations of the criminal law by a legislator while acting in his official capacity as a participant in the lawmaking process." [Emphasis mine]
The new State Ethics Act of 2006 gives the ethics panel much broader powers to investigate "any violation of the state ethics law." But the six indictments all predate the new law, and they don't technically fall under the scope of the old ethics law in effect at the time. So the Ethics committee can't technically pursue them itself.
Instead, Hackney says, a Select (House-only) ethics committee will be formed to examine the indictments under the House's broader constitutional authority to police "corruption or malpractice" by a member. They'll do their own investigation of the charges, which will likely lead to a hearing and a recommendation of some kind to the full House.
Investigation 2: (and this is where it gets really interesting...)
The Legislative Ethics Committee proper (the big one) will continue to investigate "other charges" which may stem from the additional information shared with them by the Wake County DA's office. The nature of those charges is still confidential, but because Hackney filed the complaint, he can talk about it. He says the "Track 2" investigation "has to do with using one's legislative office to assist in trying to procure a loan. "
That's odd because one of the indictments references a similar charge--Wright's alleged 2004 attempt to use his position to get a loan. But wait - if the committee's already decided it has no jurisdiction to pursue that indictment, then...what? Is there some nuance they can work with in the indictment? Or is there another loan story out there we haven't heard yet?
In a nutshell...
As far as I can tell, two separate House committees will be looking at (it appears) two different sets of allegations against Wright. Select will take up whether there's evidence of corruption or malpractice in the indictments. The Legislative Ethics Committee will consider what sounds like new material we many not have seen yet.
Hackney says it's complicated but appropriate:
"We have the authority to judge our own members, and when allegations this serious come to our attention, we have the obligation to investigate and to act if they're true."He also says public hearings are coming soon:
"I believe the Legislative Ethics Committee intends to proceed to hearing in early February. I don't believe there's any reason the Select Committee can't get on the same schedule."Both committees could recommend actions up to and including expulsion. Both would go straight to the House for a vote. Governor Easley told Dome today he's ready to call legislators back into special session if they request it.
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