It appears former Gov. Mike Easley will come out smelling like a rose following his guilty plea to a felony related to a campaign finance violation involving unreported flights. He was fined $1,000, which he paid. His campaign was fined and still owes $94,665. According to the News & Observer, Easley has applied for reinstatement of his law license.
An elections board member had urged the Bar to require repayment of the fine as a condition of restoring Easley’s law license. The Bar did not. Elections director Gary Bartlett said Tuesday the fine has not been paid and that Easley’s campaign has indicated it probably will not pay.
So how do you get away with just saying you probably won’t pay?
Carolina Journal’s Don Carrington investigated and covered the Easley story extensively. You’ll find the archive of his stories here.
