Raleigh– This morning, a new bombshell report from WRAL revealed House Rules Chairman David Lewis borrowed half a million dollars in June 2018 from John Gray, who was indicted in March for actively trying to bribe another state official. The story solidifies what North Carolina already knows to be true. Lewis is at the epicenter of the corruption and lies that are central values in today’s NC GOP.

Here’s how:

•  According to today’s WRAL report, the June 2018 loan was supposed to be for four months. Gray was indicted in March. As of today, the loan still has not been paid back.
• Today’s WRAL report also notes Lewis’ description of Gray as “a good guy” this week, which is not surprising because, in addition to the $500,000 loan, Gray has given Lewis’ campaigns $7,300 going back to 2016.
• Yesterday, another WRAL report revealed House Speaker Tim Moore’s massive conflict of interest, which, once again, involves Rep. Lewis as an influential player. Moore is suing Duke Energy while they have major legislation moving in the General Assembly and hired Lewis as a paid expert witness in the case. It’s a shady way for Lewis to make a quick buck.
• Just a few weeks ago, on September 11th, Lewis lied to House Minority Leader Darren Jackson multiple times, insisting no votes would be called until at least 1 p.m. Of course, North Carolinians now know what Republicans had planned. Speaker Moore held a vote early that morning and, with less than half of lawmakers present, voted to override Governor Cooper’s veto of the bad state budget Republicans put forward. Instead of negotiating with the governor, they resorted to what they know best: lies, trickery, and deception. And Lewis helped them get there.
• A June WRAL report revealed that Lewis, “for years the point man for redistricting efforts in the House and the lead defendant in the [redistricting] lawsuit,” lied to a federal judge and to the public when he insisted maps were not pre-drawn. A recording later emerged which caught Lewis in another massive lie.

“It is no wonder Republican legislators won’t negotiate with the Governor – they’re too busy attempting to brush their self-created legal problems under the rug,” NCDP Executive Director Meredith Cuomo said. “Lewis continues to prove he is a central figure in their corruption and demonstrates a total lack of ownership or awareness in all of it. When dishonesty and deception are all you know, it gets harder to recognize in both yourself and your colleagues.”

READ MORE:

WRAL, “Key NC legislator got $500,000 loan from man later indicted on bribery charge,” By Travis Fain, October 9, 2019.

WRAL, “NC House Speaker suing Duke Energy,” By Travis Fain, October 8, 2019.

News & Observer, “NC House overrides budget veto in surprise vote with almost half of lawmakers absent,” By Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Lauren Horsch, and Paul A. Specht, September 11, 2019.

WRAL, “Lawsuit: Republican legislators lied about election maps,” By Travis Fain, June 6, 2019.