As catalogued in our election updates this morning, N.C. Sen. E.S. “Buck” Newton has dropped a defamation lawsuit against his former Democratic foe in Senate District 11.
During the 2010 election, then Sen. A.B. Swindell and the N.C. Democratic Party authorized a mailer claiming that Newton was arrested on drug-related charges in 1990. Check out Anthony Greco’s video report on the story (below) for more.
Here is text from Swindell’s apology:
During the 2010 election for Senate District 11, the North Carolina Democratic Party, my campaign, and I ran radio ads and distributed mailings which stated that in 1990, while in college at ASU, Buck Newton was charged and arrested for selling illegal narcotics. Based upon what we know now, the charges against Buck Newton were inaccurate and Buck Newton was wrongfully charged.
The ads and mailings were based on records we obtained from the Watauga County Clerk of Court. Those records were incomplete. The Court file we received did not contain an Addendum to the dismissal of the charges against Buck Newton, signed by an Assistant District Attorney in Watauga County.
SNIP
Based upon the statements in the Appendum, Buck Newton was not involved in any way in these drug sales. Had we received the Addendum along with the rest of the Court file, we would not have run the ads or distributing the mailings during the campaign.
The North Carolina Democratic Party and I regret this mistake and sincerely apologize to Senator Newton and his family for any embarrassment and harm we may have caused.
