Documents: Ex-GOP chair for North Carolina to plead guilty

Source: Associated Press

Jonathan Drew, Associated Press
Updated 1:29 pm CDT, Friday, September 27, 2019



Photo: Mike Spencer, AP
FILE - In this June 3, 2017 file photo North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party State Convention at the Wilmington Convention Center in Wilmington, N.C. Hayes will admit in court that he lied to federal agents conducting a bribery probe of a major political donor. The federal court docket shows that Robin Hayes is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on Oct. 2, 2019. A factual basis document prepared as part of the plea agreement and signed by Hayes' attorney acknowledges that Hayes knew he was making false statements to FBI agents.


RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A former North Carolina GOP chairman will admit in court that he lied to federal agents conducting a bribery investigation of a major political donor, according to court documents filed Friday.

The federal court docket shows that Robin Hayes is scheduled to enter a guilty plea next Wednesday. Hayes has agreed to plead guilty to making a false statement to the FBI, said U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lia Bantavani.

A factual basis document prepared as part of the plea agreement and signed by Hayes' attorney said Hayes knew he was making false statements to FBI agents conducting the bribery probe in 2018. He was initially also charged with conspiracy and bribery.

Prosecutors have accused Hayes, a former congressman, of involvement in an insurance executive's plan to funnel campaign contributions to the state's top insurance regulator in exchange for special treatment. The executive, Greg Lindberg, and two of his associates have been charged with attempting to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Documents-Ex-GOP-chair-for-North-Carolina-to-14472899.php