NC Dems forfeit $24k over Easley flights

[ccharles000]

The state Democratic Party on Thursday forfeited more than $24,000 to the state Board of Elections to "address and resolve" questions about the party's role in past donations of flights and gifts that are tied to the campaign of former Gov. Mike Easley.

The state party's chairman, David Young, said party officials had believed that seven donations of flights and gifts made in 2003 and 2004 had gone to the party. However, he said, there are now questions about whether the party received the benefit.

Young said in a letter to state elections chairman Larry Leake that the payment was to show a "good faith effort to fully comply with the law."

The development follows reports in The News & Observer in May about flights provided for Easley. Records released earlier this year by Gov. Beverly Perdue indicated that some of the flights in question were provided by businessmen to take Easley to or from his own fundraisers.

But the question has been whether those donations actually were meant for the Easley campaign all along, but just not accounted for that way.

"We do not know that these contributions were improper," Young wrote, "and until questions were recently raised, had no reason whatsoever to believe that they might be improper."

In an interview, Leake said the payment from the party represents a "penalty" for contributions the party listed as receiving but for which it does not seem to have benefited.

Leake said the payment Thursday does not end the elections probe.

"The truth will come out," Leake said. "It's fair to say that we still have concerns."

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/ncdems_forfeit_24k_over_easley_flights