Political Corruption and Casinos at Center of North Carolina Lawsuit

Article by : Erik Gibbs Jun 20, 2024

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A new lawsuit in North Carolina has brought serious accusations against state legislators and local officials, suggesting corruption tied to a contentious casino project. Former Rockingham County Commissioner Craig Travis has initiated this legal action, claiming political manipulation and campaign finance violations aimed at paving the way for a casino in Stokesdale.

This lawsuit not only targets high-ranking North Carolina officials but also three political organizations, accusing them of defamation and a series of misconducts.

Central to the allegations is the assertion that these entities engaged in a concerted effort to undermine Travis’s election campaign due to his vocal opposition to pro-casino measures.

The intricate timeline of events that led to this lawsuit traces back to August 2021, when NC Development Holdings, LLC was established. This Delaware-based company, spearheaded by Joseph Weinberg, CEO of Cordish Gaming Group, is at the heart of the controversy.

The lawsuit posits that there was a coordinated attempt to influence state legislation through substantial campaign contributions directed at key North Carolina legislators. These contributions were allegedly funneled through tax-exempt political organizations, effectively circumventing legal donation limits.

Specific instances cited in the lawsuit indicate that between November 2022 and January 2023, executives from Cordish made maximum individual contributions of $5,600 each to lawmakers who held significant sway over legislative outcomes.

These financial contributions are purported to have had a direct impact on legislative actions, including the commissioning of a report by Spectrum Gaming Group. This report was aimed at providing a supportive framework for the legalization of casinos in select North Carolina counties, with Rockingham County being a notable example.

Despite visible public opposition and voiced concerns during county meetings, local officials proceeded to overturn the initial denial issued by the Rockingham County Planning Board regarding Cordish’s rezoning request.

This move, as outlined in the lawsuit, was not merely a procedural change but part of a broader retaliation strategy against those who opposed the casino project.

The lawsuit highlighted an egregious example of this retaliation: the removal of dissenting planning board members who had voted against the casino’s rezoning.

Travis, having faced substantial personal and professional repercussions, is seeking over $100,000 in damages. He claims that the orchestrated false attacks and defamation campaigns significantly contributed to his election loss and inflicted considerable damage to his personal and professional reputation.

These allegations have shone a spotlight on broader concerns regarding the influence of money in political processes and the integrity of public officials in North Carolina.

The involvement of what is often termed ‘dark money’ and the utilization of aggressive political attack ads in Travis’s campaign defeat underscores a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability within the political and electoral framework.