NATION IN BRIEF : SOUTH CAROLINA : Charges Dropped Against Lawmaker
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A conspiracy charge against a state senator was dropped in Columbia, S.C., but the lawmaker still faces charges that he sold his vote on a parimutuel betting bill. U.S. District Judge Falcon Hawkins said there was not enough evidence to conclude guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the conspiracy charge. U.S. Atty. Bart Daniel had argued that a videotape proved state Sen. J. M. (Bud) Long was guilty. It showed Long telling lobbyist and government informant Ron Cobb that he needed money to make a house payment.
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