Ex-lawmaker David Lewis pleads guilty to felonies. Prosecutors recommend no jail time
Last week, former NC Rep. David Lewis, became the state’s latest prominent Republican to become a convicted felon.
Lewis, who funneled campaign dollars to his family farm, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a bank and for failing to file a 2018 federal tax return. Lewis will be sentenced at a later date, but prosecutors have said they will not seek active prison time.
- Elected to the House in 2002, the former Harnett County legislator became a major player as Republicans took control of the chamber in 2011. Lewis became a top lieutenant to House Speaker Tim Moore and one of the House architects of the state’s racially-motivated gerrymandering.
- In 2018, Lewis transferred about $300,000 from his campaign account to his bank account for Lewis Farms, according to court documents. Lewis also took checks totaling $65,000 coming from his campaign coffers and put them in that account to pay for his farm and pay the rent on his home.
David Lewis, along with other GOP leaders like Tim Moore and fellow convicted Greg Lindberg and Robin Hayes, have a long history of using their power for their own interests. Most notably, Lewis and Moore were known to have led the charge on racially gerrymandering North Carolina, suppressing Black voters and denying many North Carolinians fair representation.
In Trump-like fashion, Lewis abused his privileged role that was granted to him by voters for his own enrichment.
For that, Lewis should not have gotten a slap on the wrist and avoided prison, but rather held far more accountable for violating public trust and exploiting his position for personal and partisan gain.
