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Could Easley investigation expand to Perdue?

By Melissa Hankins - bio l email

WBTV (Charlotte) - Sources tell WBTV that the federal probe into former Governor Mike Easley's travel records and expenses may grow to include our current Governor, Beverly Perdue.

The FBI is investigating trips taken by Easley during his time in office.

The News and Observer in Raleigh reports, while in office, he flew on at least 25 private jets provided by several businessmen.

Easley didn't pay for some flights, and the value of other trips appears to exceed campaign donation limits. It's a matter of receipts. They were kept under lock and key until recently -- still some are missing.

Now, we've learned Democrats are worried about Perdue's travel records from the time she served as Lieutenant Governor, largely because we're told they're unavailable.

Highway Patrol says it simply didn't keep her travel records; former Democratic consultant Joe Sinsheimer finds that strange.

"It does seem odd that they kept the travel records for the governor but not the lieutenant governor," Sinsheimer says. "There is a fear in democratic circles that this investigation will grow and it could cross over from the Easley administration to the Perdue administration." ]

Sinsheimer is very well known here in North Carolina for being a political watchdog. He raised attention about Jim Black, long before authorities went after him.

WBTV contacted the U.S. Attorney looking into Easley. He said he could neither confirm nor deny his probe now includes our current governor.

Perdue's office didn't comment on-record.