Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., is reportedly mentioned in the charging documents of a federal corruption investigation that has led to the indictment of North Carolina business leaders and the state Republican Party’s chairman.
North Carolina State Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes, 73, and businessman Greg Lindberg, 48, were indicted in Charlotte federal court Tuesday on charges of wire fraud and bribery along with associates. Politico reports that Lindberg donated $150,000 to Walker around the same time he asked Walker to push North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to fire his deputy.
The identity of “Public Official A” listed in the indictment is reportedly Walker. Walker has not been charged in the case, but the text of an email in the indictment alleges he was discussed in the emails between Lindberg and one of his associates who was also indicted Tuesday.
“Just between the 3 of us … [Public Official A] has already made two calls on our behalf and is trying to help us move the ball forward,” the associate wrote Lindberg in a 2018 email. “I was also told that the $150,000 will be going to [Public Official A].”
Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski said in a Justice Department release called the scheme “brazen,” adding that bribery in the government “undermines confidence in our political system.”
“The indictment unsealed today outlines a brazen bribery scheme in which Greg Lindberg and his coconspirators allegedly offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions in exchange for official action that would benefit Lindberg’s business interests,” Benczkowski wrote.
Also indicted Tuesday as part of the scheme were John Gray, 68, and 63-year-old John Palermo. Palermo is affiliated with the Chatham County Republican Party.
Lindberg’s attorney, Anne Tompkins, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner: “Greg Lindberg is innocent of the charges in the indictment and we look forward to demonstrating this when we get our day in court.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Walker’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
