Observations from Day 2 of the Easley Hearings Posted: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 We didn’t learn a lot Tuesday. Witnesses were considerably more guarded than those on Monday. The former Treasurer of the Easley Campaign, former fundraiser, policy wonk and a donor failed to remember much regarding specifics of how the campaign raised money and how it related to the Democratic Party.
Whereas Monday’s witnesses appeared willing to share information Tuesday’s group kept answers short and volunteered little information. We didn’t think the Board did a very good job of questioning and following up on answers. It was especially amusing to watch Board member Bob Cordle’s questioning. He was so obvious in his attempts to help out the witnesses that he left little doubt of his political affiliations.
Dave Horne is a consummate attorney and straight-up guy. He gave carefully measured responses to questions asked. Folks who know him know he would not risk perjuring himself. The funniest moment of the day came when Horne described himself as a marriage counselor. We have known for years that Mike Easley was a maverick, unwilling to conform to expectations from others, but perhaps the greatest insight gained Tuesday was that Easley was frequently at odds with his own campaign team and that Horne had to intercede to make peace.
Neither Horne, Michael Hayden, the fundraiser for the Easley ’04 re-election campaign or policy wonk Mac McCorkle couldt seem to recall to whom they reported, who made decisions, and whether there were funds channeled to the state Democratic Party. They certainly have no knowledge of any slush funds at the Democratic Party, even though Chairman Leake and others kept asking them questions about them. They may have kept themselves out of legal trouble but they did little to convince the average citizen they were telling the whole truth.
Why would a man give more than $100,000 to the North Carolina Democratic Party? Especially a political appointee who wanted to be reappointed to his job and a developer who needed permitting for a boat ramp. That’s the question the Board tried to ask but never could quite put so bluntly to Garry. Let’s hope Gary Allen is more convincing to real estate investors and buyers than he was in his testimony. Wonder if he would like to donate money to a TV show?
Jim Cooney, attorney for the Democratic Party used an easel to do some new math he claims proves conclusively that there was no slush fund and the Easley gave more money to the Party than they gave the candidate.
WRAL-TV anchor David Crabtree reported a conversation he had with former Ag Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps. Crabtree says that Phipps wondered why Easley wasn’t put on the stand first, as she was. She had to give testimony, then hear what other witnesses had to say. Easley at least has the benefit of having heard both the line of questioning and the comments of other witnesses before he takes the stand Wednesday morning.
Wednesday may be the make or break day for this hearing. Former Governor Easley is expected to be the first witness called. Will there be fireworks or more “I don’t recall?”
Stay tuned.
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