North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan said Wednesday she has recommended that the White House not replace the U.S. attorney leading an investigation into former Gov. Mike Easley, saying the prosecutor should stay to complete his work.
 
Hagan, a Democrat, said she didn't want to politicize the process by rushing to replace the Republican appointee in the midst of federal probes involving two Democrats - Easley and two-time presidential candidate John Edwards.

"I don't feel that it's going to be in North Carolina's best interest, currently, to replace someone who is investigating these two very high-profile people," Hagan said. "If an investigation is going on, he ought to have the opportunity to complete that investigation."

U.S. Attorney George Holding, the lead prosecutor in the eastern district of North Carolina, is investigating Easley and his wife Mary, according to subpoenas sent to the state Highway Patrol and North Carolina State University.
 
Holding has not said he is investigating Edwards, but the former North Carolina senator has also acknowledged a federal inquiry. Edwards has said he is confident no campaign funds were used improperly.

Easley, who left the governor's office in January after completing two four-year terms, faces an inquiry into his use of private aircraft before and during his time as governor. Investigators have also requested Mary Easley's employment records at N.C. State, where she got a job in 2005.

The former governor has said he is confident in the outcome of the investigation.

Holding has said that the Obama administration asked him earlier this year to stay in the position until a successor is appointed. He declined to specifically discuss Hagan's remarks Wednesday.
  
"I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States," Holding said. "I'm confident that whomever the president appoints to be the next U.S. attorney will do the same."

Hagan put together a panel in March to recommend candidates for federal courts positions, including prospects for U.S. attorney and judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
  
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, praised Hagan for her decision.

"For far too long, some state-level politicians have been more concerned with protecting political friends and allies than with rooting out corruption," Berger said. "I hope that Gov. Beverly Perdue and our state's Democratic legislative leaders will learn from Sen. Hagan's example today and put principle above politics."

Perdue, meanwhile, said Wednesday she has ordered the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety and the State Highway Patrol to implement new record-keeping protocols. Those records will now include detailed information about each trip that the governor or lieutenant governor take outside of Wake County with a member of the executive security detail.     

"This new protocol will provide clear direction for how the State Highway Patrol executive security detail collects and retains travel records," Perdue said.
 
The FBI has subpoenaed Highway Patrol travel records from the Easley administration. The patrol said recently it didn't have records for the Easley family's travels for all of 2005, the first year of his second term.      

Also on Wednesday, Cameron McRae, who was cited as someone who provided private flights for Easley in a News & Observer of Raleigh series two weeks ago, resigned from his seat on the Board of Transportation.

McRae, a Bojangles' franchiser from Kinston, said he was proud of his work but wants to "give others the chance."

Easley appointed McRae to a third term on the transporation board in January.

Another Easley ally to provide flights for the governor was businessman McQueen Campbell. Campbell resigned from his position as chairman of the N.C. State University Board of Trustees last week. On Wednesday, the trustees selected former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan to replace Campbell as chairman.