Dec 15, 2007
 
Rep. Wright turns himself in, is freed on unsecured bond 
He faces charges related to misuse of money; ethics panel will also hear his case
Thomasi McDonald, Staff Writer - News & Observer

State Rep. Thomas E. Wright, once a top lieutenant of former N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, turned himself in to Wake County authorities Friday following his indictment this week on charges of swindling banks, corporations and campaign contributors out of more than $350,000. 
 
Wright appeared before a magistrate on the charges, which followed an investigation into his use of money meant for his campaign and for charity. 
 
At one point, Wright looked at a cluster of clicking cameras and reporters and said, "You'd have thought I'd murdered somebody. Gee." 
 
Wright, 52, faces five felony charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and one felony charge of obstruction of justice. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bond, as ordered by Wake Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens. 
 
Wright, a Democrat, is serving an eighth term representing his Wilmington district. He also faces ethics hearings in the General Assembly. 
 
Late Thursday, House Speaker Joe Hackney appointed six representatives to a special ethics committee to hear the case against Wright. The House members are the same six who serve on the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee for both chambers. 
 
Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat, is the chairman, and House Minority Leader Paul Stam, an Apex Republican, is the vice chairman of the special committee. 
 
The hearings ultimately could result in Wright's expulsion from the House. The last time the state legislature removed a lawmaker was more than a century ago, in 1880. 
 
(Staff writer Dan Kane and The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.) 
 
thomasi.mcdonald@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4533 
Staff writer Dan Kane and The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.