"No one should take satisfaction in this embarrassing spectacle," Fetzer said, "the net effect of which has been to reduce and diminish the citizens' confidence in their government."
Sadly, we think that is exactly right.
The elections board, which heard sharply contradictory stories from Easley and some of his former aides and associates, fined Easley $100,000 for failing to report as campaign contributions scores of flights provided him by McQueen Campbell, a longtime friend and former chair of the N. C. State University board of trustees.
The $100,000 constituted $60,000 in the actual cost of the flights and $40,000 to reimburse the board for the cost of the investigation.
More ominously, the board also asked state prosecutors to investigate whether criminal violations were involved in the flights and in free repairs at Easley's Raleigh home. Easley and his campaign already are under scrutiny by state and federal authorities over an unusually favorable deal for a coastal land purchase and the hiring of Easley's wife, Mary, by N. C. State University.
While Fetzer's comments might be expected from the opposing party, it should be noted that the elections board, composed of three Democrats and two Republicans, was unanimous in its findings against Easley.
Members clearly credited testimony by McQueen and others over differing versions offered by Easley -- in which he essentially sought to distance himself from details of his campaign finance and attributed any failure to properly pay for flights and repairs to an absence any invoices charging for them.
That didn't fly with the board. Said Democratic member Anita Earls, "I could not conclude that this was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication."
Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kenerly now will undertake to conclude whether criminal prosecution is warranted. Wake District Attorney Colon Willoughby wisely removed himself from the case, concerned his long friendship with Easley would raise doubts about his ability to handle the case.
We hope for a speedy decision on criminal charges, so that all the facts in this tawdry chapter in the state's government can come out. If Easley is innocent, he deserves to have his name cleared. And if not, perhaps the outcome will serve as a reminder to officials in the future to uphold the ethical standards the public has a right to expect.
