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State's ALE refusing to discipline officials

RALEIGH, N.C. — The state Alcohol Law Enforcement agency is refusing to discipline two top officials accused of using their government cars for weekend trips.

The auditor claimed ALE Director John Ledford and Deputy Director Allen Page have been driving from Raleigh to Asheville.

Officers are allowed to drive their cars home within 40 miles, but the audit found Ledford clocked about 1,000 per month.

The auditor also said the men tried to block her investigation.

“The pushback that we got was so tremendous that we kept going around and around and kept thinking, ‘What else could possibly be here?’” State Auditor Beth Wood said.

Ledford said he sometimes drives his state car home in case he needs his lights and sirens.

Gov. Bev Perdue said state lawmakers are reviewing the audit.