He was once so close to Gov. Mike Easley that many referred to him as “the little governor.” But now Ruffin Poole is heading to federal prison on an income tax evasion charge. Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson gives an eyewitness account of the courtroom drama as the judge handed down the sentence and questioned attorneys about the case that began as a corruption investigation and ended in a plea deal on one count of tax evasion. Then Carolina Journal investigative journalist Don Carrington discusses the 20-year legacy of the publication, including key breakthrough stories he investigated and reported on, including the 1997 secret slush fund, the activities of Mike and Mary Easley, and the infamous Randy Parton Theatre in Roanoke Rapids. Next we turn to energy policy. Some North Carolina lawmakers believe North Carolina can reap a financial windfall from deposits of natural gas located underground and off the coast. Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, recently touted the benefits of legislation called the Energy Jobs Act. You’ll hear his comments, along with concerns from Sen. Stan White, D-Dare. That’s followed by an in-depth look at President Andrew Johnson’s fascinating life and legacy. The N.C. History Project recently co-hosted a forum highlighting the Raleigh native, the 17th president of the United States and the first president to face impeachment. You’ll hear comments from both of the forum’s featured speakers. Paul Bergeron, professor emeritus of history at the University of Tennessee, discusses key aspects of Johnson’s political philosophy, including the ideas that led to bitter conflicts with the Congress that put him on trial in 1868. And, trial attorney David O. Stewart, author of Impeached: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln’s Legacy, delves into the details of the first Senate trial of a sitting president for alleged “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Ex-Easley Aide Ruffin Poole Heads to Prison
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