Documents: Easley sought donor 'loophole'

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley's campaign sought ways to get around donor limits by funneling money through the Democratic Party, documents indicate.

Internal documents from Easley's 2000 and 2004 campaigns for governor revealed discussions among officials of ways to obtain more money from donors than allowed by state law, which limits individual campaign contributions to $4,000 per election cycle, The Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said two May 2000 memos written by Easley campaign manager Jay Reiff, revealed Tuesday by the State Board of Elections, urged the campaign to use a "loophole" in the law that allows unlimited non-cash contributions by the party to candidates.

"I propose we initiate a large donor program through the (state party) immediately," Reiff reportedly wrote. "We will be competing directly with the House and Senate committees over big donors, so it's critical we place someone within the (party) to get their hands on the money first."

The News & Observer said two Easley campaign officials and a top donor appearing before the board denied wrongdoing and couldn't recall details of the donations.

Easley retired as North Carolina governor at the end of his second term in January.