2 Mo. lawmakers plead guilty, will resign

Source: Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri state Sen. Jeff Smith pleaded guilty Tuesday to two federal counts of obstruction of justice tied to his failed 2004 congressional campaign and announced he would resign from office, ending what was once thought to be a promising political career.

State Rep. Steve Brown, a fellow Democrat, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to obstruct justice and said he also would step down.

Smith's congressional campaign came under scrutiny after a supposedly independent group distributed postcards and fliers critical of his primary opponent, Russ Carnahan. In his plea, Smith admitted involvement. He also acknowledged that he lied to Federal Election Commission investigators.

Smith's 2004 campaign treasurer, Nick Adams, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Smith told U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson that during the campaign he learned that an individual was planning an effort on his campaign's behalf. He said that although he knew it was illegal to coordinate efforts with independent committees, he authorized Brown — then an aide to Smith — to raise money for the effort, and his campaign staff provided information on Carnahan's voting record as a state lawmaker.

Smith said he lied to FEC investigators and coordinated with Brown to mislead the agency's probe.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/2-mo-lawmakers-plead-guilty-will-resign-1.1393262

Cyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio commissioners is full of corrupt Democrats all under investigation.

Second, maybe these guys are Dinos, only belong to the Democratic Party so they can get elected.

A lot of people had believed in Smith.