Elections board member resigns over conflict of interest
RALEIGH -- A member of the North Carolina Board of Elections has resigned over his failure to recuse himself from an investigation into political donations by an Oklahoma Internet sweepstakes magnate represented by his law firm.
Paul J. Foley resigned early Thursday, less than a week after the Associated Press reported that for more than a year he regularly pressed staff at the agency for updates and details about the probe targeting his firm's longtime client. He eventually recused himself, but only after elections staff learned of nearly $1.3 million in payments from Chase Burns to the law firm where Foley is a partner.
At issue were more than $270,000 in questionable checks from Burns to the campaigns of elected officials in North Carolina. The board concluded Wednesday the donations were legal.
