State officials are investigating Treasurer Dale Folwell’s use of state vehicles, according to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
Freeman confirmed to The News & Observer on Wednesday that the State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into Folwell’s use of state vehicles at her request.
In a statement, Freeman said state law requires that “evidence uncovered during a routine audit that may amount to misuse of government property be reported to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.”
“When this occurs, it is important that the SBI conducts due diligence in determining whether there has actually been a misappropriation of state funds,” Freeman said.
“As is customary after receiving this information from any agency, the State Investigation Bureau is conducting an investigation into the use of state vehicles by the state treasury at my request,” she said. “As with all matters involving public officials, it is important that the public can trust that these types of matters are being investigated properly. We are at the beginning of what a standard assessment is.”
The investigation into Folwell’s use of state vehicles was first reported by WRAL on Wednesday evening.
The N&O could not immediately reach Folwell by telephone.
Folwell has served as treasurer since 2017, a statewide elected position in which he serves as the state’s chief financial officer and leads a department responsible for the state’s pension and health care plans for state employees, as well as state investments.
Folwell, a former state lawmaker, declined to run for re-election this year. Instead, he chose to run for the Republican nomination for governor and lost to Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.
Under the dome
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