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Wednesday: From DC
posted at 2007-08-08 23:47 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
Still up in DC tonight (and no cheesy tourist photos to show for it, sadly), but that's okay - the national papers are keeping me up to date on the corruption fallout in NC.
Take Mike Baker's AP story on the western NC sheriffs who were allegedly running protection rackets for video poker operators. It's sweeping the wires today. You can find it in most of the McClatchy papers, plus Forbes, the Houston Chronicle, even the Times Daily of NW Alabama...not to mention TV stations all over the Southeast.
Don't these folks have their own big scandals to report? Well, okay, maybe not quite like this one. From Baker's story:
"[snip] Rutherford County Sheriff Jack Conner was working with federal authorities in December 2006 when he agreed to take $10,000 from Henderson, according to court papers filed Tuesday. Henderson had asked Conner to provide protection for houses where he located his video poker machines, and agreed to pay Conner an additional $1,000 per month.
"Henderson told Conner during a videotaped conversation that other sheriffs in nearby counties were also taking bribes, according to a judge's order to detain Henderson pending trial. He said one sheriff wanted $100 per machine per month for protection, while another sought monthly installments."
Ouch. Whether you're a politician or a federal prosecutor, video poker really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Speaking of fallout...
There's no shortage of it in on Jones St., either.
The N&O's Lynn Bonner reports Don Beason, the lobbyist who loaned Jim Black the cool half-mil back in 2000, has resigned from the state lobbying association. As Bonner notes, the organization is voluntary, not regulatory. According to the Secretary of State's site, Beason is still registered and very active. But even if the gesture is pretty much symbolic, it's still telling.
Wilmington's Mark Schreiner reports Rep. Thomas Wright (D-New Hanover) is late turning in his most recent campaign finance reports paperwork for the 2nd quarter. The Star-News editorial board reacted today with its customary restraint. Hey, give the guy a break. It probably takes a while to sort through all those accounts.
Char-O's Cleve Wooten reports House District 67 Republicans have chosen former Stanly County commissioner Kenny Furr to replace former Rep. David Almond, who resigned abruptly this year under allegedly unsavory circumstances that no one seems to want to discuss on the record.
State Sen Fletcher Hartsell (R-Cabarrus) is in hot water over his "guidance" of legislation his critics say benefited a former client. Char-O's Sharif Durhams has the details.
Enough, already, folks. At least wait till I get back into town Thursday.
Comments? Drop me a line.
