Feds investigating Wilmington businessman campaign donations

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington businessman Rusty Carter was convicted last week of making illegal campaign contributions, but his legal troubles may not be over yet. We learned this afternoon he may face even more charges from a federal investigation.

Carter funneled money through his employees to high-profile Democrats like Gov. Bev Perdue and state Sen. Julia Boseman. District Attorney Ben David says a larger federal investigation is underway. According to a blog on the Raleigh News & Observer website, Carter was a longtime friend and fraternity brother of ex-governor Mike Easley. Carter was on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, and was upset when he lost a bid to be chairman of that board. It was frustration he vented to Easley aid Ruffin Poole in e-mails that were retrieved as part of a public records request.

Because Carter was such a generous donor to the governor, one of the items the feds may be investigating is if there was a pay to play expectation in the governor’s inner circle.