A federal grand jury has charged a Kentucky lawmaker with paying bribes to a mine reclamation inspector to ignore violations.
The grand jury in London, Kentucky, named Democratic state Rep. Keith Hall of Phelps and former state mine reclamation inspector Kelly Shortridge in an alleged scheme to ensure Hall's mines passed inspection.
Grand jurors said Hall and Shortridge set up a shell company, DKJ Consulting. Prosecutors say Hall then used a company he owned, S&K Properties, to funnel money to Shortridge.
Hall's indictment will not affect the November election. The Democrat lost the May primary election by 209 votes to fellow Democrat Chris Harris. Harris is running unopposed in November.
Shortridge was also charged with lying to the FBI. He allegedly told agents that he had no connection to DKJ.