The attorney general’s office confirms that state investigators are playing a role in the ongoing investigation of the former governor.
That news generated this press release from Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger’s office:
AG Cooper Confirms Ongoing Easley Investigation,
Refuses Special Prosecutor
Berger urges Attorney General to reconsider
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Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) today responded to a letter from the office of Attorney General Roy Cooper.? For the first time, Cooper officially acknowledged that SBI agents are working with federal authorities on an investigation into matters relating to former Governor Mike Easley and former first lady Mary Easley.? However, Cooper continues to refuse Senator Berger’s request to have a special prosecutor conduct an investigation at the state level into allegations of corruption involving the Easleys.
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This should concern the citizens of North Carolina for two reasons.
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First, federal law sets the statute of limitations at five years on felonies related to public corruption.? Several of the allegations, specifically those involving the receipt of improper benefits centered around the use of a vehicle by Easley’s son, occurred more than 5 years ago and cannot be prosecuted in federal courts.? However, these alleged crimes could be prosecuted under North Carolina law as the state has no statute of limitations on felonies related to public corruption.
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Second, since 2002 multiple elected Democrats including former House Speaker Jim Black, Congressman Frank Ballance, and Agricultural Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps have been convicted of corruption related offenses resulting from investigations originating at the federal level.? Unfortunately, at the state level the Democrats in control of state government have shown an inability or unwillingness to aggressively prosecute corrupt politicians in their own party.? Confidence in state government is undermined severely when the public is forced to rely on the federal government to bring corrupt politicians to justice. To restore public confidence in state government Attorney General Roy Cooper must aggressively work to show the public that he is serious about ending public corruption – even if it means prosecuting fellow members of the Democratic Party.
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“It is reassuring to know that Attorney General Cooper has initiated an investigation into the corruption allegations involving former Governor Mike Easley and his wife Mary.? However, it is past time for Attorney General Roy Cooper to appoint a special prosecutor dedicated to investigating possible violations of state law,” said Berger.
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“The federal statute of limitations should not be a get out of jail free card for politicians accused of corruption.? Public confidence in the political process and in state government requires that state level crimes be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.? Attorney General Roy Cooper should act immediately to ensure that an independent non-partisan special prosecutor is appointed to investigate the allegations of corruption involving the Easleys.”
