Democrats taking care of each other

Head of N.C. GOP derides Carter's punishment for illegal campaign contributions

By Patrick GannonPatrick.Gannon@StarNewsOnline.com

RALEIGH The head of the N.C. Republican Party took a shot at the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office Thursday, saying the punishment of Rusty Carter amounted to "not

Carter, a Wilmington businessman and Democratic fundraiser, was fined $5,000 this week and placed on probation after he illegally contributed $176,000 to the campaigns of Gov. Beverly Perdue, Senate leader Marc Basnight and state Sen. Julia Boseman, D-New Hanover, by funneling money to those campaigns through employees of his company, Atlantic Packaging.
In addition to the fine, Carter is prohibited from donating to campaigns for two years.
"As a North Carolinian, I'm embarrassed by what happened in New Hanover County the day before yesterday," GOP chairman Tom Fetzer told reporters at a news conference.
Fetzer questioned why Carter didn't receive jail time and why the case was settled on Election Day, when public attention would be focused elsewhere.
Ben David, district attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties, said Fetzer's words were directed to the wrong people.
"Mr. Fetzer's concerns are better addressed to the legislature to toughen the laws than to prosecutors who are enforcing the laws to the fullest extent possible," David said.
Carter wasn't eligible for jail time because he didn't have any prior convictions, David said.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Old, who prosecuted the case, said he didn't know a district court judge in the state who would have put Carter in jail for Class 2 misdemeanors.
"That's less serious than having drug paraphernalia in your pocket," Old said.
Old added that he believed the laws governing illegal campaign contributions should be tougher.
Fetzer also said Perdue and Basnight should have kept better tabs sooner on donations linked to Atlantic Packaging and Carter.
Prosecutors say there's no evidence Perdue and Basnight were aware the donations were illegal when they were received. But Fetzer says it's their obligation to ensure donations they take were given lawfully.
The campaigns have forfeited most of the money. Both Basnight and Perdue also have said stronger laws are needed against those who give illegally to campaigns.