Former Gov. Mike Easley was convicted Tuesday of knowingly filing a false campaign report, becoming the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy federal investigation.
Easley, a Democrat who was governor from 2001 to 2009, appeared before Wake County Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III in a role unfamiliar to a former crusading prosecutor and two-term attorney general.
The crime: Easley admitted that he failed to report on a required campaign disclosure that he took a $1,600 helicopter ride with a supporter in October 2006. That violated several campaign laws written to shed light on how monied interests interact with politicians - involvement for Easley that had drawn intense focus from state and federal authorities beginning in early 2009.
Easley's conviction was decided after weeks of behind-the-scenes talks between state and federal prosecutors and his legal team that culminated over the past few days. Court records indicate that authorities had been weighing at least one other unspecified charge.
Easley's voice cracked at times as he answered questions from the judge about whether he understood his plea, known as an Alford guilty plea. It means that he did not admit guilt, but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him on the charge, which is the lowest level felony in North Carolina.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/25/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
So now what happens? Since he has been convicted of a felony, does he actually serve time? Or will he work out a cushy deal and be sentenced to probation or "time served"?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
11/25/2010 7:43 Comments ||
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US President Barack Obama's Kenyan grandmother says she prayed during a hajj pilgrimage to Mecca for the American leader to convert to Islam, a newspaper revealed on Thursday.
"I prayed for my grandson Barack to convert to Islam," said Sarah Omar, 88, in an interview with Al-Watan Saudi daily held in Jeddah after she had performed hajj.
The paper said that Omar was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage along with her son, Obama's uncle Saeed Hussein Obama, and four of her grandchildren.
Omar told the newspaper that she could only discuss hajj matters and would not comment on Obama's politics.
The family appeared to have been hosted by the Saudi government for hajj. Saeed thanked King Abdullah for his "kind hospitality," the paper said.
US opinion polls in August revealed that roughly one in five Americans believe that Obama is a Muslim, a claim categorically denied by the White House which has maintained that he is a "committed Christian."
#2
This is actually important, as it demonstrates what is still operational among the radical left after the election blow out. After doing extensive polling, the lame duck Democrats have settled on the DREAM Act as the one part of their agenda they have a chance at passage in what time they have left.
So once again the trumpets and drums go out, this time to academia, to roil up students and illegals. Still, note the emphasis is on the RINOs. Since McCain is probably on their side, the emphasis is on Hutchinson.
Make no mistake, all the usual suspects are backing DREAM. Not just La Raza, but CAP, New World Foundation, lots and lots of Soros money and front organizations.
#3
Since Obama insists on stirring that particular Kettle of Snakes, why not go all the way and annex Mexico as the 51st State.
Sounds like that's the idea, they're just pussyfooting around the edges until they can pounce anyway.
Sure, and that's what we really need, a massive inflow of piss poor peasants Who are ALL expected to vote Democrat in Payment for their new Graft (Obamacare, Welfare for life, and down with freedom)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
11/25/2010 9:44 Comments ||
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#4
This lame duck Congress can pass it, but the next one can defund most higher education programs [student loans, grants, studies, etc], that will precipitate a collapse of the Higher Education Welfare State like the home building industry. It's not academia is going to block vote Trunk regardless in a couple of years. Nothing really to lose.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
