Quote :

"Special House ethics panel recommends Rep. Wright be expelled By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press Writer RALEIGH, N.C. — A special House ethics committee on Thursday unanimously recommended Rep. Thomas Wright be kicked out of office for committing financial fraud on a "breathtakingly massive" scale. If the full House concurs, the eight-term Wilmington Democrat will be the first lawmaker expelled from the General Assembly in 128 years. Lawmakers were outraged at their finding that Wright failed to report 400 campaign contributions between 2000 and 2006. After hearing the verdict, Wright didn't bother to stick around to learn of his possible punishment. "I'm highly disappointed with my colleagues. This rush to judgment from day one is politically motivated, clearly," Wright said. "I am an elected official. I am their peer, and how dare my colleagues sit in judgment and pass judgment on me." But the committee members, divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans, agreed during a solemn and brief debate that removing Wright from office was the only appropriate punishment. "Rep. Wright holds public office because of his lies," said committee chairman Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland. "Rep. Wright's conduct makes this decision, for me, not even a close one." "

OK..it looks like this Wright guy is another corrupt politician. But the voters put him there, not the NC House. We have to be careful allowing politicians to kick other politicians out of office.

Quote :

"One of Wright's attorneys, Irving Joyner, said his client should be allowed to amend his campaign reports, something he said hundreds of campaign committees did last year to fix mistakes. "Instead of prosecuting Thomas Wright, we should be encouraging him to amend his report," Joyner said during his closing argument."

It looks like, if a the House wanted, they could come up with some slimy excuse to allow him to remain. In the light of the average lack of principles of most politicians today, allowing them to kick out fellow members is nothing more than playing politics.

I'm all for prosecuting this guy. But, if he refuses to resign, he should be allowed to finish out his term with no gov't interference. The House can take him off committees, reduce his standing, pass a condemnation statement...but leave him in place.

Leave him there, if anything, as a reminder to the voters of what can happen when you give too much power to mere humans.

It would be worth paying him just for that function.


http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/content/gen/ap/NC_XGR_Wright_Investigation.html

3/7/2008 10:47:41 AM

Quote :

"We have to be careful allowing politicians to kick other politicians out of office. "

Why? It's not like they are deciding to do it on a political whim. They would do it after an extensive investigation into crimes the guy has committed.

I'd agree with your points if the voters had a provision to get rid of the guy before the next election day rolled around. As is they'd be stuck with a criminal as their representative until the next election cycle.

3/7/2008 11:15:26 AM

The fact that its been 128 years since they last expelled someone makes me think that this is not going to become a common, everyday political stunt. If we want any sort of semblance of accountability in government, we need to be able to remove those who betray the public trust.

Giving politicians immunity only emboldens them to engage in corrupt activities.

3/7/2008 11:20:52 AM

short version of what Wright is accused of:

not disclosing hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions which he allegedly re-routed into businesses and charities that he himself created

3/7/2008 11:24:40 AM

Shiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

3/7/2008 11:58:50 AM