In a federal courtroom in Winston-Salem, Republicans are defending their voting law changes as actions necessary to “restore confidence” in government.
They could do better by refusing campaign donations from people like Chase Burns and keeping political influence out of election administration.
Democrats had plenty of problems, too, when they held political power. Some went to prison for taking improper campaign donations or outright bribes. N.C. House Speaker Jim Black was the most notable figure implicated in corruption scandals.
Tainted money is still around. Burns, a supplier of Internet sweepstakes machines, donated more than $200,000 to candidates and political organizations, mostly Republican, in 2012. Recipients included Pat McCrory, Phil Berger and Thom Tillis. Some Democrats, including Alma Adams and Gladys Robinson, received smaller amounts. Burns later pleaded no contest in Florida to charges of assisting in the operation of a lottery. The sweepstakes industry is fighting for its life in North Carolina, and campaign cash is a powerful weapon.
Also receiving money from Burns and his company — more than $1.2 million — was Paul Foley’s Winston-Salem law firm. Foley was appointed to the five-member State Board of Elections by McCrory in 2013, just as the board’s staff was launching an investigation of Burns’ political contributions. Foley didn’t disclose the payments to his firm but took a “strong interest” in the status of the Burns probe, frequently asking staff members detailed questions about it, according to Senior Deputy Attorney General Alexander Peters. This continued for more than a year, until investigators learned about the Burns payments to Foley’s firm. At that point, the staff told Foley it could not discuss the case with him, and he announced he would recuse himself from any board action on the matter.
It turns out no action will be taken. The staff failed to find evidence that Burns violated campaign finance laws — but couldn’t say with certainty that he didn’t. The board voted Wednesday not to refer the case to prosecutors.
Nevertheless, Foley should have come clean from the beginning about his law firm’s connection to Burns. He also should have told fellow board members of his discussions with Watauga County Republicans about closing an early voting site on the Appalachian State University campus, where students vote heavily Democratic.
Foley’s inquiries about the Burns investigation did not influence board staff, Peters concluded in his review of the case. That speaks well of the staff’s professionalism. But, as a board member, Foley should be an impartial arbiter of election matters, not a partisan operative. The Watauga County move to close the campus site was challenged in court and halted, with a judge finding it was meant to discourage student voting.
Foley did have a hand in that, as shown in recently released emails. For repeated failures to perform his duties openly and impartially, he should resign. Confidence in government depends on the integrity of those who administer our elections.
