Dec 19, 2007
Hearing to expel Wright begins
House panel OKs proceedings' rules
David Ingram - News & Observer

RALEIGH - A legislative panel started proceedings Tuesday for the expulsion of state Rep. Thomas Wright, a Wilmington Democrat accused of taking $350,000 from corporations and his campaign fund.
The six members of the House select committee met for an hour and approved the rules they expect to follow over the next couple of months during what should be a historic proceeding. The General Assembly has not expelled a member since 1880.
Wright, 52, was indicted last week on six felony charges by a Wake County grand jury. He has said repeatedly he will not resign, despite calls from Gov. Mike Easley, House Speaker Joe Hackney and others to do so.
The committee voted 6-0 to adopt rules that allow it, by majority vote, to refer Wright's case to the full House for "appropriate action," including censure or expulsion. It is scheduled to meet Jan. 3 to hear preliminary evidence and consider whether to have a full hearing.
"We have a sitting member who has been indicted on six charges, and besides the criminal process, the public has to have confidence in the ethics of the people who are governing them," said Democratic Rep. Rick Glazier of Fayetteville, the committee's chairman.
A top ally of former House Speaker Jim Black, Wright is the most recent person to be indicted as part of sweeping state and federal investigations of corruption in Raleigh. Black, 72, resigned in February, pleaded guilty to corruption and is serving a five-year federal prison term.
Wright did not attend the hearing Tuesday, did not appear to have a representative there and did not return a message from the Observer left on his mobile phone Tuesday. Rep. Paul Stam, vice chairman and a Republican from Apex, said he did not know whether Wright had an attorney.
All six committee members attended in person or by phone, but otherwise the hearing was sparsely attended, mostly by news reporters and legislative staff.