Draft:List of North Carolina political scandals

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List of North Carolina political scandals

Scope and organization of political scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the U.S. State of North Carolina. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation.

Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of North Carolina

• Derwin Montgomery (D) State Representative from Winston-Salem in the 72nd district and the executive director of the Bethesda Center for the Homeless was convicted of fraud for taking $38,316 for personal use. He lost re-election and was given five years probation and paid restitution. (2018)

• David R. Lewis (R) State Representative from Hartnett in the 53rd District, has been charged with making false statements to a bank and failure to file a tax return for taking $65,000 from his campaign fund for personal use. He resigned his seat. (2020)

• Robert Cordle (D) Chairman of the State Board of Elections was forced to resign by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, after he had made a joke in front of hundreds of election officials relating cows to women. (2019)

• Cody Henson (R) State Representative from Transylvania in the 113th District, was accused of stalking and harassing his estranged wife after she had taken out a restraining order against him. He pled guilty to cyber stalking and resigned his position. (2019)

• Derwin Montgomery (D) State Representative from Winston-Salem in the 72nd district and the executive director of the Bethesda Center for the Homeless was convicted of fraud for taking $38,316 for personal use. He lost re-election and was given five years probation and paid restitution. (2018)

• Robin Hayes (politician) (R) Chairman of North Carolina Republican Party was charged with lying to the FBI and accepting $1.5 million in illegal campaign contributions from Insurance businessman Greg Lindberg, in a scheme to get more favorable treatment from the North Carolina State Insurance Commissioner. Lindberg was sentenced to seven years in prison. Hayes resigned as GOP Chairman and pled guilty to making false statements. He was sentenced to one year probation and fined. (2019)

• McCrae Dowless (R) Campaign Consultant for US Republican candidate Mark Harris (North Carolina politician) in NC’s 9th US Congressional District. The election was marred by suspected absentee ballot voter fraud. Dowless was arrested and charged with multiple counts of illegal ballot handling and conspiracy in both the 2016 and 2018 elections. He was convicted of defrauding the government and sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined. (2018)

• Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr. (R) State Senator, was indicted for misusing almost $200,000 in campaign contributions and falsely labeling them as expenses and charitable donations. He was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 8 months with three years probation. (2016)

• Earl Phillip (R) State Director of the North Carolina Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign. While traveling by car, Phillip allegedly pulled a gun and pressed it up against the knee of fellow Trump campaign staffer Vincent Bordini. No reason was given and Phillips’ did not fire. Bordini quit the campaign and filed a lawsuit against Bordini and the entire Trump for President Campaign. Phillips’ resigned. (2016)

• Joe Parmley (D) Executive Director of the North Carolina Democratic Party, was rumored to have made a settlement payment to a male staffer to stop allegations of sexual harassment. The staffer was then fired. Parmley denied any wrongdoing, but resigned. (2012)

• Deb McManus (D) State Representative from Siler City, resigned her seat after being accused of embezzlement. She then pled guilty to a tax charge. She was sentenced to three years probation, fined $79,474 and given community service. (2013)

• Stephen A. LaRoque (R) State Representative from Kingston in District 10, was supposed to redirect U.S. Department of Agriculture loan monies to small rural business owners with limited access to capital. Instead, he took millions to fuel a lavish lifestyle, which included new cars, an ice rink and bejeweled Faberge eggs. He was convicted of aiding and abetting theft and was sentenced to two years. (2013)

• Ruffin Poole (R) Aide to Governor Mike Easley (R) was charged with 51 counts ofcorruption, but pled guilty to tax evasion for accepting $30K from real estate developers for facilitating their projects. Poole was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, two years’ probation, and fined $30,000. (2011)

• David Almond Jr. (R) State Representative from Stanly, abruptly resigned from the state legislature because of what Republican House leaders called a personnel complaint involving serious, improper behavior. (2007)

• James B. Black (D) State Representative and House Speaker, was accused of accepting $29,000 in bribes from chiropractors to pass a favorable law. He pleaded guilty to corruption and was sentenced to 63 months in prison. See also Michael P. Decker. (2002)

• Michael P. Decker (R/D/R) State Representative, well known for conservative positions, solicited Democrats for $50,000 in bribes and other gifts in exchange for switching parties, thus giving Democrats the house majority. He pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, mail fraud, and money laundering and was sentenced to four years in prison. See also James B. Black. (2002)

See also:

List of federal political scandals in the United States List of federal political sex scandals in the United States

List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes List of Alabama political scandals List of Arizona political scandals List of Arkansas political scandals List of California political scandals List of Colorado political scandals List of Connecticut political scandals List of Delaware political scandals List of Florida political scandals List of Georgia political scandals List of Hawaii political scandals List of Idaho political scandals List of Illinois political scandals List of Indiana political scandals List of Iowa political scandals

References