Perdue campaign investigation nearing end

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The state investigation into Bev Perdue's campaign for governor is nearing an end and the man in charge of that investigation said it would likely end with new charges being filed.

Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby told ABC11 that Governor Perdue was not under investigation nor was any other public official, but said his investigation has grown beyond where it started.

"There's certainly conduct that has given us pause and concern," he said.

Willoughby talked at length about his investigation into flights taken by then-lieutenant governor Bev Perdue that were not paid for on time - in some cases years later.

In August 2010, the North Carolina Board of Elections fined the Perdue campaign $30,000 for "flight irregularities," but then Willoughby began his own investigation and more than a year later he said his work was just a few weeks from finished.

"I think, pretty soon, the investigative part of it will be over and the only decision left will be for me to try to make decisions as to what charging decisions will be appropriate," he said.

However, Willoughby said his investigation has gone beyond just flight irregularities.

"We are looking at several different instances, some of which involve flights, some of which involve other things that we felt needed close scrutiny," he said.

Already one person close to Perdue has been charged with ''arranging and causing" an illegal contribution surrounding an unreported flight and Willoughby said more charges are likely to follow.

"I think it's probably likely that there may be other charges, but at this point, I don't feel comfortable in saying who or what," he said.

ABC11 has reached out to Governor Perdue's office, but they have not returned the calls. In the past, they have referred calls to a spokesperson for the campaign, who had more than once stressed that the governor was not under investigation - something Willoughby has confirmed.

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