< Previous page

The inquiry, held in a makeshift hearing room at a downtown Raleigh hotel, attracted media from across the state, as well as state and federal investigators who are doing separate probes involving Decker; the creation of the state lottery; the work of Black's former political director, Meredith Norris; and campaign contributions from the video poker industry.

Norris, who has been subpoenaed to testify at the election board hearing, showed up after lunch and sat quietly with her attorneys.

The inquiry could lead to a finding that no laws have been broken, or a public rebuke, fines or a referral of election law violations to the district attorney for criminal investigation. The board could also issue suggestions to lawmakers to tighten state election laws.

Black and Decker have been subpoenaed for the hearings, and they were offered seats at tables in the front of the room.

Decker sat several rows back in the audience and hung his head during much of the hearing. He chewed at his fingernails and said little to those around him.

Black said he would not comment on the hearings until after he testified. But he said some of Wednesday's testimony was "quite misleading."

His lawyer, Kenneth Bell of Charlotte, said none of the testimony showed that Black or his staff did anything wrong.

Elections board members often sounded incredulous as they took in the testimony. They wondered why Sands sent Black the campaign money for Decker when Sands couldn't recall being asked by the speaker to raise it.

< Previous page