RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding made the following statement after Speaker Jim Black’s plea to corruption charges in Superior Court:

“I am pleased Speaker Black has moved closer to accepting responsibility for his crimes. The People of North Carolina entrusted Speaker Black with responsibility and power. In return, Speaker Black prostituted his office. Speaker Black’s crimes debase the essential fabric of democracy, which is the peoples’ trust of elected officials.

Speaker Black has the opportunity to come clean and cooperate with federal and state investigations.

The investigation and prosecution of public corruption is and will remain a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”