Easley Hearings Expected to Wrap Up Today
Thursday, October 29 2009
by Laura Leslie
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Easley at the State Board of Elections on Wednesday. (Photo: Laura Leslie)
The State Board of Elections could decide Thursday whether former governor Mike Easley is guilty of campaign finance violations. The star witness of the three days of hearings so far was Easley himself. His testimony yesterday conflicted with statements by his former pilot McQueen Campbell, who said Easley had directed him to send a bogus bill to the campaign for Easley's home repairs. Easley said that conversation never happened.
Elections Board chairman Larry Leake said it's impossible to reconcile the two accounts. "I think that someone is probably not telling the truth," said Leake. "This board has got to make an effort to determine what IT believes the truth to be from the totality of the evidence which has been presented."
Easley also denied allegations that his campaign funneled money through the state party to circumvent limits on donations. The board will hear from one last witness Thursday. They could decide to fine Easley, send the case to criminal court, or take no action at all.
