Fighting Public Corruption

The Department of Justice lawyers and investigators bring corruption cases against public officials at all levels of local and state government in North Carolina.

 

Agents with the SBI’s professional standards and financial crimes units are called in to investigate allegations such as embezzlement and bribery. The State Board of Elections refers campaign offenses to the SBI for investigation and related criminal charges.

 

Department lawyers and agents work with federal authorities and local District Attorneys to investigate hundreds of criminal cases against elected and appointed officials.  The NC Attorney General's Office and the SBI have investigated more than 500 public corruption cases over the past eight years.  

 

The Attorney General has requested increased power for state investigators and prosecutors to bring such cases. He has asked for state prosecutors to have the same power as federal authorities in convening investigative grand juries, which could compel testimony in such cases.