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MILWAUKEE - Prosecutors have
charged Milwaukee County Supervisor Johnny L. Thomas with
accepting a bribe in exchange for promoting a company on a
county contract.
Thomas was charged Thursday
with two felony counts — one for accepting a bribe and the
other for misconduct in office.
Thomas is accused of
accepting $500 in cash in an undercover sting operation. The
charges say Thomas also agreed to accept another $500 in
campaign donations to move forward with recommending the
contract.
The charges say one day after
accepting the $500 bribe, Thomas added an item to his
committee agenda to extend the contract from the company
that he thought was offering the cash.
Thomas' attorney, Mike
Maistelman, says Thomas is innocent and will be
"vindicated and cleared of all charges."
In a statement, Milwaukee
County Board Chairman Lee Holloway says he is "shocked
and saddened' by the charges against Thomas. Holloway says
he had no knowledge of the case until it was revealed
Thursday.
Thomas, a first-term
supervisor, was running for Milwaukee city comptroller but
is suspending his campaign.
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