Former Gov. Mike Easley may be out of sight. But he’s hardly out of mind. The bad news keeps coming so fast it’s hard to keep up.
This just in: On May 18, N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger said Easley’s wife, Mary, should resign from a lucrative job she received with the university while still serving as first lady.
That latest development in a growing series of embarrassments for the former governor and his family seemed inevitable. Already both the provost and the chairman of N.C. State’s Board of Trustees have resigned under pressure for their connection to Mary Easley’s job, which raised suspicions of favoritism, and rightly should. Trustee Chairman Campbell McQueen stepped down shortly after UNC President Erskine Bowles demanded it. Provost Larry Nielsen, who hired Mary Easley, also resigned, citing “unbearable” scrutiny of how and why she received not only her first job, but a promotion at more than double her salary.
In 2005, the former first lady received a three-year contract as executive in residence in Nielsen’s office at $80,000 a year, then a new job in 2008, and a new contract worth $850,000 over five years.
The Easleys’ troubles hardly begin and end there, however.
Federal authorities revealed May 15 that they are investigating who paid for flights Easley, a Democrat, and his family took on private aircraft while in office. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Easley flew on at least 25 private jets provided by various businessmen, some of which the governor didn’t pay for — others whose value appeared to exceed campaign donation limits. That would make them illegal.
The FBI has subpoenaed the state Highway Patrol and a trooper who headed personal security for the governor for documents related to those flights.
Then there were the complimentary vehicles provided to Mary Easley and the Easleys’ son by auto dealers. And a questionable land purchase in Carteret County that followed political appointments for the sellers.
Through all of these messes the former governor has not said much. But when he does, it seems to emanate from an alternate reality.
Easley said May 15 in a written statement: “I am comfortable with the federal authorities collecting and reviewing all records relating to my 30 years of public service to the people of North Carolina. I am confident of the outcome, and we look forward to moving on with our private lives.”
That cheery resolve seems more and more wishful as each new revelation surfaces. At the very least, the governor kicked ethics to the curb and took favors he shouldn’t have.
For now, Mary Easley should do the right thing and comply with Oblinger’s “suggestion.” As for the rest of this mess, we’ll have to wait and see where it takes us.
Odds are, it won’t be a very pleasant place.
My guess is that you, being a Democrat, supported Mr. Easley, what a shame, are you man enough to admit that it was a mistake and that Gov. Easley used his connections to secure his spouse a dream job?
The easiest way to steal from taxpayers is to act as if you are in full support of either one of the following things, teachers, veterans or farmers and the purse strings just loosen-up, what a hoax and it is continually used to rob the taxpayers.