Secret reasons prevent testimony at hearings

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Judge won't say why aide won't testify

There is a reason Ruffin Poole, a counsel to former Gov. Mike Easley, can avoid testifying before the State Board of Elections.

The reason is a secret.

In an order issued Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Henry Barnette Jr. quashed the election board's attempt to compel Poole, one of Easley's closest legal and political advisers, to take the stand.

Appeals Court: Easley aide must testify

The state Court of Appeals has blocked an attempt by Ruffin Poole to avoid testifying before the State Board of Elections.

On Wednesday, Poole, right-hand man for former Gov. Mike Easley, convinced a trial court judge to quash a subpeona seeking his testimony at an elections hearing investigating Easley's campaign finances. The judge kept the reason for his ruling secret.

The Court of Appeals put aside that order today.

Easley aide takes the Fifth

A top aide to former Gov. Mike Easley who helped gather campaign donations from politically connected businessmen declined Thursday to testify before the State Board of Elections, citing his Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate himself.

Shortly after, the aide's employer, the McGuireWoods law firm, said he was no longer with the firm.

The aide, Ruffin Poole, 37, of Raleigh, served as Easley's special counsel and executive counsel during the governor's two terms in office. Both later joined the McGuireWoods firm. Poole had become known as the guy to turn to for patronage jobs and help with many regulatory matters.

Aide for ex-N.C. Gov. Easley takes the Fifth before Elections Board

A top aide to former Gov. Mike Easley who helped gather campaign donations from politically connected businessmen declined Thursday to testify before the State Board of Elections, citing his Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate himself.

Shortly after, the aide's employer, the McGuireWoods law firm, said he was no longer with the firm.

The aide, Ruffin Poole, 37, of Raleigh, served as Easley's special counsel and executive counsel during the governor's two terms in office. Both later joined the McGuireWoods firm. Poole had become known as the guy to turn to for patronage jobs and help with many regulatory matters.

Time to go

Ruffin Poole was a good soldier for former Gov. Mike Easley, and when Easley left office after two terms, Poole joined him at the multi-state McGuire Woods law firm. But Easley had already rewarded Poole's service by appointing him to the prestigious board of the Golden LEAF Foundation, which is in charge of dispersing hundreds of millions of dollars from North Carolina's share of the national tobacco settlement.

Poole resigned from that board Tuesday, and he should have. He had succeded in quashing a subpoena from the State Board of Elections, which wanted his testimony on matters pertaining to Easley's campaign finances. Easley appears to be a subject of state and federal investigations into his acceptance of air travel and his fund-raising. As one who helped with campaign money, according to testimony in the hearings, Poole might have been a valuable witness at recent hearings.

The state Court of Appeals agreed, and said after the hearings that Poole would have to testify, and he still might.