N.C. House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, says ethics hearings for Rep. Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover, could take place in early February.
While a new N.C. House select committee starts investigating Wright, the existing Legislative Ethics Commission will proceed with its own work.
Hackney says the full commission will address the charge that Wright used his legislative office to assist in trying to procure a loan. The new select committee will address the activity that led to criminal charges against Wright in Wake County Superior Court.
Hackney also referenced several times the same passage from his initial report from the Legislative Ethics Commission. The commission believes it does not have jurisdiction to investigate the activity that led to criminal charges against Wright. But the commission does have a response to the charges:
They’ve said if true, this is unethical and warrants such action as the House of Representatives may determine. So they are … those words have meaning.
The select committee, Legislative Ethics Commission, or both groups could recommend Wright’s removal from office.
