Bringing The World Home To You

© 2024 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
120 Friday Center Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NC Senate Leader Says Lease Transactions Lawful

Republican Phil Berger of Eden is president pro tempore of the state Senate.
http://www.ncleg.net/

State Senate Leader Phil Berger is using campaign funds to pay for a townhouse he and his wife are leasing in Raleigh.
The central question here is whether or not that is legal. Berger’s campaign staff says it is, and that they have twice received approval from the state Board of Elections. Still, campaign finance watchdog Bob Hall filed a complaint with the board Wednesday morning.

Hall's complaint says the house was purchased in 2016. Berger's campaign has been making $1,500 monthly payments to a firm that Phil Berger manages.

"What he’s doing is he’s using his campaign money to buy an asset, to buy a house,” Hall said. “It’s one thing to rent an apartment while you’re in Raleigh as a legislator. But he’s actually accumulating an asset that his campaign has paid for, and I think that’s illegal."

Hall is calling for an investigation. Republicans quickly called the claim a non-issue.

Berger's campaign said then-board Executive Director Kim Strach approved the practice in 2016 and it was reaffirmed in the spring. State law allows campaign money be used for expenses resulting from running for or holding office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
More Stories