What does Perdue have to hide from the state auditor’s office?

State Democrats with the ethics commission don’t want the state auditor to investigate a claim of abuse of power by a staffer from Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue’s office.

Imagine that.

N&O:

“The State Auditor’s office believes that it is truly unfortunate that Commission staff filed suit instead of working with auditors to resolve hot-line complaints and public reports of abuse of power (favoritism), possible evidence tampering and the possible retaliatory firing of an employee,” the statement said.

The auditor began investigating the commission after receiving a tip in the fall of 2007 that Will Polk, Perdue’s general counsel, visited the office and was allowed to look at her financial disclosure statements alone in a closed office. Ethics commission officials said visitors typically review the files in an open conference room, at times with a staffer observing. The conference room was in use when Polk visited.