[I want to know]

Sleuth this- why did Leary and Cheek meet with the DA early in March BEFORE the party occurred?

This is the DA's account of the meeting (doesn't say when they met).

http://mikenifong.com/statement.php

During the campaign, I received a visit from Mr. Cheek, Mr. Leary, and Mr. Pope, all of whom had previously told me that they supported my candidacy, and one of whom had appeared in a campaign ad endorsing me. They came, unsolicited, to offer me advice on a matter that had arisen during the campaign on which they had an opinion with respect to how it should be handled. After listening to their input, I thanked them, but I then told them that I would be guided in all my decisions by what I believed to be right, without regard to possible political consequences. I went on to win the nomination of the Democratic Party and become the only qualified candidate for District Attorney on the November ballot. When Mr. Leary and Mr. Pope later helped spearhead the petition campaign to help Mr. Cheek qualify as an unaffiliated candidate to run against me, I realized that their concern had not been with the concept of a small group of people owning the District Attorney's Office, but with the concept of it being owned by someone other than them.

[Locomotive Breath]

I remember that. So what he's saying is that it's OK for the DA's office to be owned by a small group of people as long as it's the right small group of people.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Thank you, that is what I am thinking of.

In one news account, I read this was before the party.