Federal prosecutors said a state senator from Prince George’s County sold his office for more than $245,000 to help a grocery store chain. In opening arguments Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Gavin said Sen. Ulysses Currie was paid by Shoppers Food Warehouse to use his power as chairman of a powerful Senate committee in an effort to reduce rent for the chain at a Baltimore shopping mall, transfer a liquor license from one store to another and put traffic lights near stores.
“This is a case about a politician who took bribes,” Gavin said, according to the Associated Press.
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The senator’s lawyers said he arranged meetings to help store officials navigate the bureaucracy of Maryland state government — not to do anything illegal.
— Scott McCabe
