November 6th / 8th, 2009
"Easleygate: 'It Never Ever Happened'"
Last week a cast of characters lacking in character were paraded in front
of the State Board of Elections to tell what they knew about Easleygate.
Some were forthcoming, while others suffered acute memory loss. The latter
group included Gary Allen who said he had no recollection as to the
circumstances surrounding two $50,000 checks he wrote to the state Democratic party
at exactly the same time that he was trying to obtain a permit for his
coastal development.
Former Governor Mike Easley’s campaign treasurer Dave Horne also displayed
significant loss of ginkgo biloba. He testified that even though he
oversaw all finance reporting, he relied on others to supply him with
information.
And then there was Michael Hayden, Easley’s chief fund raiser, who couldn’
t recall how the money he raised for the Governor might have been funneled
to or through the state party. And so, with bean counters Moe, Larry, and
Shemp showing solidarity for their former boss, some observers were
surprised when a fourth stooge started to actually spill the beans.
McQueen Campbell, former Chairman of the Trustees at N.C. State
University, and a confidant of Easley who appointed him, admitted to having flown big
Mike around the state in a private plane, but never invoiced the campaign
for the cost of those trips, which totaled over $87,000. But it gets
better. It also appears that Easley had arranged for repairs on his home to be
charged to the campaign, and reported as “travel expenses”. I’m no CPA, but
unless Ealsey’s house flew off to OZ with Dorothy, then the former Governor
may be in some deep doo doo.
Yet, in response to Campbell’s testimony, and to the mounting charges of
campaign finance violations, Easley proclaimed “It never ever happened”.
The SBE didn’t buy it, and decided to fine Mr. Easley’s campaign
$100,000. They also referred the matter to prosecutors for further probing. If it
can be proven that Easley authorized or arranged for these violations, then
he will pull time in prison. And if that happens, it will be like Al Capone
going to jail for tax evasion instead of for murder. That’s because Mike ‘
Scarface’ Easley’s other transgressions make unreported plane rides look
petty.
Anyone remember Easley’s edict that we peons must conserve water during a
severe drought? While our lawns were dying, the greens at Easley’s country
club were well hydrated. In fact, the Old Chatham Golf Club received
special dispensation to pump 450,000 gallons of water per day onto their course.
Oh yes, and the club waived the Governor’s dues, which totaled $50,000.
And then there was the tax money spent on maintaining a special residence
for state troopers so they could be close to the Easleys during the couple’
s many weekends at their Southport estate. Speaking of resort properties,
there was also the little matter of how Easley was able to purchase a marina
lot in Carteret County for $700,000 under market value, a transaction
brokered by none other than McQueen Campbell. And that takes us back to NCSU
where Campbell helped manufacture a job for Easley’s wife Queen Mary, whose
salary was suddenly raised by 88% just before Mike left office.
Before that, however, you might recall that Mr. Easley sat idly by in the
aftermath of Katrina, and did nothing to prevent price gouging at the gas
pumps following a broken pipeline in the Gulf. Of course, he and Mary had
plenty of jet fuel to get down to Southport so he could relax while other
Governors were actually governing during the crisis.
And there was the Dell deal that Easley pushed through the legislature,
giving most lawmakers less than a day to review. Thus far, no one can prove
that mediocre Mike knew the magnitude of Dell’s scam, but had he not rushed
the vote, we might have had time to learn that our only competitor for the
new plant (Virginia) had offered ten times less than our bid.
I realize that many of Mike’s misdeeds were not crimes, and that trying to
prove the criminality of others might be tough. Still, I can’t help but
reflect back on Mr. Easley’s emphatic retort, “It never ever happened”. If
only that were true of his term in office.
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