Easley’s law license stays suspended for 1 more year – News & Observer

Former Gov. Mike Easley has reached a deal with the N.C. State Bar to have his law license suspended for one more year, a resolution that ends investigations stemming from controversies that surrounded Easley as he left office in early 2009.

Easley, a Democrat who was a two-term governor and state Attorney General before that, was convicted after a plea deal in late 2010 of committing a felony related to improper reporting by his campaign of a flight. Easley, who turns 62 in March, has been a lawyer since 1976. (More)

 

Ex-Easley aide gets year in jail–Source: ABC 11

RALEIGH — A former aide to ex-North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley was sentenced in a Raleigh courtroom Tuesday.

Ruffin Poole, 39, will serve a year and one day in a federal prison for income tax evasion. He must pay a $100 assessment and a $30,000 fine. Restitution for more than $16 thousand in unpaid taxes has already been paid. (Read more)

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Mike Easley

Easley says buck stops here, but he can’t pay 95,000 of them–Source: News & Observer

Former Gov. Mike Easley is too broke to pay nearly $95,000 remaining on a fine imposed on his campaign by the state Board of Elections, his lawyer says.

"Governor Easley, because of the investigations and the costs involved, is not in a position to pay this fine personally," Raleigh lawyer Joseph B. Cheshire V said Wednesday. "He took responsibility yesterday for the failures of his campaign and paid a tremendous price that essentially leaves him without a way to support himself and his family, much less incur the costs of the large fine levied on his committee." (Read more)

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Former Governor Mike Easley

Easley pleads to campaign finance violation–Source:

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Former Governor Mike Easley walked into a North Carolina courtroom Tuesday and entered an Alford plea to a felony campaign finance violation.

An Alford plea means he does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the evidence against him could lead to a guilty verdict.

"As the candidate, I have to take responsibility for what the campaign does. The buck has to stop somewhere. It stops with me," Easley told the court. (Read more)

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Former Governor Mike Easley

Feds: Easley probe will last as long as needed – Source: WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — Responding to criticism from Democrats about the length of a federal investigation of former Gov. Mike Easley, U.S. Attorney George Holding said he doesn’t rush criminal probes.

Since early last year, a federal grand jury has subpoenaed records related to Easley’s travel, land deals and relationships with developers. The grand jury indicted Ruffin Poole, a former top aide, on 57 corruption charges, and he pleaded guilty in April to income tax evasion. (Source: WRAL)

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Former Governor Mike Easley

Appeals Court ruling on Wright could affect Easley – Source: WRAL

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Court of Appeals on Tuesday again rejected arguments from a former state House member seeking to have his convictions overturned. (Read more @ WRAL)

The Former Governor Easley Saga Continues

Ruffin Poole is no longer an lawyer for the McGuireWoods law firm. A spokesman for the firm, Will Allcott, said that as of today Poole is gone. He would not say if he was fired or resigned. (Read more @ News & Observer)

Easley aide quits state foundation board

It just does not look good for my former Governor.

Oh well how many more are going down with him? (Read more @ Carolina Journal)

Raleigh NC – Audit: Mary Easley highly overpaid

Hell this is nothing new. There are many others who have been overpaid over the years. There are some who continues to be overpaid. This is what happens when some folks are in charge and they allow politics to become an evil. I always thought it was suppose to be about helping others who are in need and not the greedy. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

Audit: Mary Easley highly overpaid

The $170,000 salary that N.C. State University paid former state first lady Mary Easley until it fired her this summer was $91,000 too high, according to a never-completed — and much speculated-upon — state audit. (The News & Observer)

 

Raleigh NC – It’s in the woods

I found this to be quite interesting. I would never have thought that Easley’s career would have gone down in history with so much drama. Oh well you never know. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

This might explain everything. It might explain why former Gov. Mike Easley was kind of an under-the-radar guy, why his people didn’t have much to say about where he was and what he was doing when he was governor. Yes, yes, perhaps it’s clear now. At least a viable explanation has emerged. (News & Observer)

Raleigh NC – Nielsen’s exit package cut

NCSU has reduced the exit package for former Provost Larry Nielsen back to its original deal — six months of pay at his provost’s salary.

Interim Chancellor James Woodward said he reviewed a deal that Nielsen had made with Chancellor James Oblinger the day before Nielsen resigned last month and found it to be "invalid." (News & Observer)

Raleigh NC – Where will Easley saga end?

Funny how the racist are not commenting on this story but look at the post about black folks and especially the newly appointed black D.A. Robert A. Evans. They have called us the N-word however the Telegram has removed those comments. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

As a former district attorney who made it his mission to weed out corruption at the highest levels of government in Brunswick County, you’d think former Gov. Mike Easley would have known better.

It has yet to be determined by the courts whether Easley broke any laws in having his staff solicit N.C. State University officials to hire his wife in 2005, or if he had any direct influence in her 2007 promotion and the $170,000 annual salary that came with it. But . . . (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Raleigh NC – Records: Mike Easley involved in hiring

New documents show that the Mary Easley job at N.C. State University was orchestrated at the highest levels of state government, and included the direct involvement of then-Gov. Mike Easley.

E-mail messages show the creation of the job for Mary Easley was orchestrated in April and May of 2005 by the governor and that her job formation also included his wife, . . . (The News & Observer)

Raleigh NC – Chancellor James Oblinger resigned Monday, effective immediately

Chancellor James Oblinger resigned from his position this morning according to a memo UNC System President Erskine Bowles sent to members of the UNC Board of Governors.

Oblinger said in a written statement released on the University’s Web site that he chose to resign "because that is what leaders do when the institutions they lead come under distracting and undue public scrutiny." (Technician)

Raleigh NC – Records: Oblinger increased Nielsen’s deal

Again I repeat what I have been saying since the early 90’s that politics do not have to be dirty. The good ole boys corruption is nothing compared to those racist who talk about black folks being on welfare. This is corporate welfare. Show me one single black person on welfare who are receiving these type of benefits. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

New records show that N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger cut a deal last month to increase the severance package for former Provost Larry Nielsen, and it was done the day before Nielsen resigned.

Moreover, the publicly disclosed terms of Nielsen’s payout show he will receive more than what officials had indicated – with Nielsen now set to receive $310,255 in extra pay above his faculty salary.

The documents directly contradict the public comments that Oblinger had offered . . . (The News & Observer)