State and federal prosecutors have acknowledged to Carolina Journal that their decision to open a corruption investigation often stems from a news story suggesting improper behavior or criminality by public officials.

“The case [against former Gov. Mike Easley] began after credible allegations of misconduct were presented in the news media,” U.S. Attorney George Holding told CJ. “Without investigative journalists here in the capital, much misconduct would not have come to light.”

Holding said the federal probe of Easley — the first North Carolina governor convicted of a felony for official actions during his time in office — officially began in February 2009.

What follows is a chronology of the news stories CJ and other media outlets published recounting many of the events that were cited in the Easley criminal investigations by the State Board of Elections, Rowan County District Attorney William Kenerly, and Holding.

• March 2006: “Easley Didn’t Disclose Relationship Before Marina Vote” — a CJ story about Easley’s Southport home renovations and his role in shepherding the transfer of the Southport Marina to new operators, who included the remodeling contractor. The contractor, Nick Garrett, testified at the 2009 State Board of Elections hearing that Easley campaign officials urged him to provide additional campaign contributions in the names of his children after he had given the legal maximum.

• April 2006: “Easley Got Pricey Lot at Bargain Rate” — a CJ story reporting that Easley used political connections to purchase a waterfront lot at the Cannonsgate development in Carteret County at a discount.

• June 3, 2006: “Easley targeted in marina deal” — a News & Observer story updating the situation at Southport first chronicled by CJ.

• June 11, 2006: “Friends give Easley a sweetheart deal” — a Charlotte Observer story about Cannonsgate confirming CJ’s earlier reporting.

• March 2007: “Easley Ends Suit, Gets House Deal” — a CJ story about Easley getting a bargain on a 1996 purchase of a home at Bald Head Island not long after a lawsuit he settled as attorney general protected the island from coastal erosion, boosting home values.

• June 2008: “Taxpayers Fund Easley Coastal Trips” — a CJ story about Easley’s use of state aircraft for personal business.

• July 1, 2008: “Mary Easley’s European jaunts cost taxpayers $109,000” — a News & Observer story about the first lady’s costly travels. (Link no longer available.)

• July 2, 2008: “Mary Easley gets 88 percent pay raise” — a CJ Online story reporting that N.C. State University officials hiked the annual salary Mary Easley received to run a speakers’ program at the university to $170,000.

• July 30, 2008: “Provost Says He Acted Alone in Hiring” — a CJ Online story about Mary Easley’s initial hiring at N.C. State in 2005.

• Oct, 20, 2008: “Clues point to Secret Easley Air Service” — a CJ Online story about McQueen Campbell flying Easley for free to campaign and recreational events.

• May 2009: “Executive Privilege: The Perks of Power” — a two-part News & Observer series documenting benefits that Easley obtained from close friends, including free cars, free campaign flights, free vacations, and a questionable job for his wife.

• June 6, 2009: “Records: Mike Easley involved in hiring” — a News & Observer story recounting e-mails showing Easley and McQueen Campbell urged N.C. State officials to hire Mary in 2005. (Link no longer available.)

• Sept. 5, 2009: “Easleys got break on coastal lot” — a News & Observer story revealing that Mike and Mary Easley received an additional $137,000 discount in cash at closing. The price the Easleys paid was much lower than previously reported in 2006 by CJ and The Charlotte Observer.

• December 2009: “Rand Key Player in Easley Property Swap” — a CJ story uncovering that Sen. Tony Rand and Easley jointly owned a lot that was part of Easley’s unusual Bald Head Island home purchase in 1996.

• January 2010: “Easley Ethics Forms Omitted Rental Income” — a CJ story reporting that Easley did not disclose on state ethics forms at least three years of rental income from tenants at his Raleigh home while the Easleys were living in the Executive Mansion. Failing to file an accurate report is a misdemeanor; knowingly filing a false report is a felony.

Don Carrington is executive editor of Carolina Journal.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include links, where available, to the articles cited.