News-Record.com

Update: Click here for the AP story from today.

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The AP reported this from the legislative ethics hearings on Rep. Thomas Wright this morning:

An attorney for Rep. Thomas Wright says a state House ethics panel that could recommend the chamber kick the lawmaker out of office is racially biased.

Attorney Douglas Harris told the panel on Monday that Wright is being treated differently than a white House member who was the subject of a joint House-Senate ethics allegation last year. Wright is black.

The committee chairman, Rep. Rick Glazier, allowed the hearing to go forward. But he told Harris his motion to halt the hearing would be considered if put in writing.

The committee is considering whether Wright participated in actions unbecoming a lawmaker. The New Hanover County Democrat is accused of misusing or failing to report more than $340,000 in campaign donations, loans and charitable money.

Along with the House investigation, state prosecutors have charged Wright with criminal fraud and obstruction of justice charges.

I was listening in and there were two quotes that capture the tone that doesn't quite come through there.

The chairman of the panel at work, Rep. Rick Glaizer, had just gotten through instructing Harrison "not to go there," in bringing up prior ethics cases.

"What we have here is a white man being treated one way, and a black man being treated another," Harris said, referring to a prior complaint that was brought against Rep. Pryor Gibson, who is white, and the current hearing regarding Wright, who is Black.

Yeah, he went there.

Harris added later, "I object to my client being treated in a 'Jim Crow' manner in 2008."

For those not listening live, you can click here to listen to a fuller take.

Harris, I should note, is a Greensboro attorney. His client is from New Hanover County down east.

The hearings are scheduled to go on through Tuesday.

Those who might need some refreshing as to what's alleged, might check out some of these prior posts or just click here to listen to the first part of an opening statement by the committee council.