Ethics Commission will investigate lobby lovers

When "being in bed with lobbyists" is not merely a metaphor:

According to confidential documents obtained by WRAL News, the North Carolina State Ethics Commission will investigate lobbyists who had romantic relationships with staffers in House Speaker Thom Tillis' office.

Apparently somebody finally explained the definition of "ethics" to the Commission. "Oh, that's what it means! I thought we were supposed to make sure other races weren't discriminated against." ;)

Good news, yet this is kind of a head-scratcher:

However, the commission will not investigate Thomas or Hobbs because they are no longer legislative employees and are therefore no longer under the commission's purview.

Causing Thom Tillis to heave a huge sigh of relief, I'm sure. Good roommates are hard to find, especially the ones that keep the winerack stocked with the good stuff.

Seriously though? Resigning or being fired lets you skate away from ethics inquiries? How about those juicy severance packages? Don't they represent being paid for time not worked, a de facto extension of employment? And what about NC's revolving door policy? Doesn't that extend the Commission's "purview" to those no longer employed at the Legislature?

Those are not all rhetorical questions, by the way.