Mar 10, 2008
Evict him: Evidence is clear. House should move promptly to expel Rep. Wright. 

EDITORIAL - FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER

Rep. Thomas Wright has denied from the start that he’s done anything wrong. Despite a probe by the State Board of Elections, despite extensive evidence presented to a N.C. House ethics panel, and despite his felony indictments, the New Hanover County Democrat says he’s been wronged. 
 
After seeing the evidence presented so far, we see that a lot of people have been wronged. They include Wright’s campaign contributors, the people who donated to his nonprofit organizations and his House colleagues, whose collective reputation has been sullied by his reprehensible behavior. 
 
In hearings held last week in Raleigh, a House special ethics committee, chaired by Fayetteville Democrat Rick Glazier, heard extensive testimony from investigators who probed Wright’s fundraising and bookkeeping. The picture, Glazier concluded at the end, was of fraud that is “breathtakingly massive.” 
 
The committee heard testimony that Wright had mishandled about $340,000 in loans, charitable contributions and campaign donations. He failed to report at least 400 campaign contributions over a six-year span, apparently pocketing many of them. And he persuaded a state official to make false statements in a letter on official stationery so Wright could get a $150,000 loan.  
 
The committee was thoroughly convinced by the evidence and unanimously found Wright guilty of six charges. It also unanimously recommended that he be expelled from the House. The unanimity is no small thing — the committee was equally balanced between Democrats and Republicans, who seldom see eye-to-eye on anything.  
 
Wright and his lawyers hurled a kitchen sink of insults at the committee, charging it with racism and unfairness, and questioning its right to hold hearings or recommend expulsion. They tried in every way to discredit the proceedings. They tried everything but one key tactic — they never introduced any evidence that would rebut the charges, claiming they needed to keep their powder dry for Wright’s trial later this month.  
 
Wright and his lawyers stalked out of the hearing room before the committee recommended punishment. “I am an elected official,” Wright said. “I am their peer, and how dare my colleagues sit in judgment and pass judgment on me.” They dare because of Article II, Section 20 of the state constitution: “Each house shall be judge of the qualifications ... of its own members.” On Thursday, that judgment was clear — Wright is no longer fit to serve. 
 
Gov. Mike Easley says he’ll quickly call the House into session to vote on expulsion, if Speaker Joe Hackney requests it. He should. The cancer should be surgically removed as soon as possible.