The News & Observer has a good story today on how e-mail between former NCSU Chancellor Oblinger and other players in the ongoing Easley scandal shed light where there had been only darkness. From the report:
Oblinger in recent weeks had constructed a simple story as questions mounted about how NCSU had hired the state’s first lady, Mary Easley. He said he didn’t remember. Other N.C. State officials said the interim provost, Larry Nielsen, had handled it alone.
The e-mail messages brought that story down. They showed extensive involvement by the chancellor and others, including at least 12 contacts in 2005 between Oblinger and a trustee who acted as a go-between for then-Gov. Mike Easley. The e-mails show the governor took an active role in the job’s creation and salary.
Bowles said in an interview Tuesday that the messages made it hard for him to believe Oblinger.
The story reminded me of a lawsuit filed last year by a number of news outlets, including Carolina Journal, which alleged that Mike Easley had permitted his staff to unlawfully erase e-mail correspondence between state employees. (Bev Perdue has since inherited that lawsuit).
Easley made an infamous remark in March 2008, reported by the N&O, that he had “chunked” a hand written note that was a public record under state law.
?When I read something, unless it?s charts or something or budgetary stuff, when I read it I get rid of it. I throw it away,? Easley said.
It’s ironic that public records in e-mail format, which Easley allegedly allowed his staff to delete, have already played such an important role in the ongoing investigation.
