Secretary's texts to ex-Highway Patrol major released

Maj. Everett Clendenin, who served as spokesman for the state agency for nine years, resigned two weeks ago amid an internal investigation into inappropriate text messages to his secretary, Pam Maynard.

He had been on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the probe, which began three weeks ago.

On Friday, Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety Reuben Young released a series of messages exchanged between Maynard and Clendenin in April through June.

"I will not infringe on Ms. Maynard’s privacy – nor any other state employee’s – and possibly violate her constitutional rights by releasing purely personal text messages," Young said in a statement. "Instead, at the appropriate time I will ask my lawyers to present those text messages to the court for its review in chambers to determine if any of those personal texts are public records available for public inspection.”

In addition to the business-related messages that were released, officials mistakenly released personal messages, including a conversation log between Maynard and Clendenin during May. WRAL believes these messages are public record.

In the messages, Maynard and Clendenin have conversations about drinking, she texts him from the shower and the store, and even while driving. The two often mention that they need to "clear out" or delete their text message sessions.

Throughout the messages the two flirt with one another. 

In a May 8 chat session between the two just before midnight, Clendenin said, "OK I will say this – I would have hated to have gone through this life and have never met you."

"Wow! Talk about walls coming down," Maynard said.

Maynard later asked Clendenin how much he had to drink, he responded. "Enough to get in trouble with you."

Maynard replied, "U (sic) can be sober & get into trouble w/ (with) me ;)"

The two also repeatedly used emoticons for kisses and hugs throughout the texts and exchanged photos.

In total, the two exchanged thousands of text messages over a three month period.

"I stand by my earlier statement-there was no physical relationship between us," Clendenin said in a statement on Friday. "We were just cutting up and most messages were meaningless. As before, I apologize for the embarrassment my actions caused."

Many of the messages Clendenin sent to Maynard were released last week.

They included messages where Clendenin referred to Maynard as “addicting.” He also called her "sweetie and cutie."

"I do know you and I luv (sic) what I see," one message on May 28 read.

"I can only speak for me you can't hide your true feelings. Your eyes and smile tell the whole story," he wrote later that day.

Throughout the text messages, Clendenin used emoticons for kisses and hearts.

On May 30, Clendenin sent the following message, "Yea u would not be laughing if u knew what I was thinking. You'd be moaning."

A June 6 message read, "You were on fire last night."