Woah:
Former state Del. Phil Hamilton has been indicted on charges of bribery and extortion by a federal grand jury, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced.
Hamilton solicited a job at Old Dominion University while simultaneously seeking state funding for the ODU program.
I have to say that I’m surprised – it’s been a long time coming.
UPDATE: The Daily Press has more:
According to the indictment, released late Wednesday, Hamilton faces one count of “federal program bribery” and one count of “extortion under color of official right.” Hamilton is set to make his first appearance in federal court on Thursday in Norfolk.
UPDATE 2: The indictment is here.
UPDATE 3: Statement from Speaker of the House William J. Howell:
In 2009, I acted to preserve that trust and protect the institutional integrity of the Virginia House of Delegates when I initiated a legislative inquiry into possible violations of the Commonwealth’s Conflict of Interest Act by then-Delegate Hamilton. The House Ethics Panel ended their inquiry for lack of statutory jurisdiction following his resignation from the Virginia House of Delegates on November 15, 2009.
Today’s decision by a federal grand jury reflects the seriousness with which I and others viewed the alleged offenses. Accordingly, I trust the judicial system now will do its job and impartially determine the facts and ensure that justice is served. How a public official performs his or her governmental duties must be above reproach and unquestionably within the bounds of law.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Wow, pretty damning.
Are Officials 1 and 2 in the indictment in any legal jeopardy? Seems they were certainly co-conspirators, although their motivations in the scheme seem to be funding for the Center and not money in their pockets.
Going back through the articles, it seems that Official 1 is William Graves, the Dean, and Official 2 is Dave Blackburn. Whether they are going to be indicted remains to be seen but like you, it seems they didn’t put – or try to put – money in their own pockets.
“co-conspiritors”?
Did they work in the Department of Redundancy Department?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment
co·con·spir·a·tor (kkn-spîr-tr)
n.
A joint conspirator.
It’s a legal turn. But the ojection has merit. To be a conspirator you have to act jointly with other conspirators. It wouldn’t make sense to call someone an “indpendent conspirator.”
That’s why COnspirator starts with CO — the Latin means “to breathe with.”
I bet “ATM machine” drives you crazy, too. 🙂
So does “CAC Card”.
Curious to see whether the two officials will ultimately be testifying for the prosecution or for the defense.
If Hamilton is indicted for taking a bribe, it seems logical that someone should be indicted for offering him one…unless, as Silence said, that deal has already been cut.