More Republicans Behaving Badly

[Literate Tar Heel]

South Carolina's Agriculture Chief charged with taking bribes to protect cockfighting

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/9278569.htm

COLUMBIA - South Carolina's top agriculture official was indicted Thursday on charges of taking $15,000 in illegal payoffs to protect an illegal cockfighting ring in Aiken County.

If convicted, state Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Sharpe could face eight to 10 years in federal prison, a prosecutor said in Thursday's arraignment. Sharpe pleaded not guilty to the charges.

An indictment says Sharpe accepted two payments from operators of a cockfighting arena that he didn't report as campaign contributions. It also says Sharpe tried to convince Aiken County authorities to allow cockfighting at the facility, even though the state outlaws it.

Sharpe was indicted by a federal grand jury under the Hobbes Act, which prohibits public officials from using their office to extort bribes.

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/9278569.htm