FBI probes Virginia state Senator’s resignation

ALAN SUDERMAN
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The FBI is investigating the circumstances of former Democratic state Sen. Phil Puckett’s departure from the General Assembly, according to a person with direct knowledge of the probe and a state official.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch first reported the federal investigation into Puckett’s resignation, a move that gave control of the state Senate to Republicans and dealt a serious setback to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s push to expand Medicaid eligibility.

When he resigned, Puckett was under consideration for a high-level job with the GOP-controlled Virginia tobacco commission. Some Democrats accused Puckett of making a back-room deal with Republicans, which Puckett and GOP lawmakers have strongly denied.

A state official familiar with the probe also confirmed the investigation. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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