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Wright: Out of here
posted at 2008-03-20 13:23 | Last modified 2008-03-20 13:23
In the end, it was quick and fairly anti-climactic. The expulsion vote was 109-5 - the noes were Wright, Womble, Parmon, Jones, and McAllister.
Just before that, Guilford Dem Earl Jones tried to amend the resolution for censure, instead of expulsion, but it failed 102-12, despite a nearly plaintive speech by Thomas Wright himself. I'll have that tape here later...meantime, Dome has a transcript here.
Afterward, the mood was deflated, but slightly less grim than it was before the session. Chalk it up to relief.
Some House members said this morning they were concerned that the proceeding might get ugly and contentious. But that's not what happened. It was civil, measured, and by the book. Short, too: aside from R2 sponsors Glazier and Stam, the only members who even spoke were Jones (with his censure amendment), Wright, and House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman.
After the vote, Speaker Joe Hackney directed "the Sergeants-at-Arms to escort the former Representative Wright from the floor." Wright and his attorneys got up and left the room. The House and gallery were utterly silent - the only sound was the shutters of a dozen cameras recording his walk to the door.
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