For more than a year, investigators have asked questions, requested reports and looked for logic in the financial dealings of N.C. Rep. Thomas Wright, D-Wilmington.

And for more than a year, Wright has stayed quiet about the case, insisting only that nothing is wrong.

On Monday, a grand jury sent down an indictment that alleges otherwise. Wright stands accused of obtaining a $150,000 bank loan under false pretenses, of using charitable contributions from three companies for his own use and of failing to report $185,000 in campaign contributions and using that money for his own purposes.

Wright has been under a cloud since the roots of the investigation first became public more than a year ago. Yet neither he nor the N.C. House has made any move to remove Wright from office while the investigation proceeded. It's past time for that to change.

Wright should step aside while investigators complete their case. If he refuses to do so, the House should make that decision for him.

The N.C. General Assembly suffered enough tarnish during the prolonged investigation of N.C. House Speaker Jim Black.

Allowing Wright to stay in office mocks not only the legislature, but the people of Wright's district and of North Carolina.

There's no room in government for serving people while under indictment. The sooner North Carolina lawmakers accept that, the better for all of us.