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March is Women's History Month!

A Guilty Verdict in the Corruption Trial of a State Senator

Birmingham, Alabama –
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A federal court jury in Birmingham has
convicted state Sen. E.B. McClain and Jefferson County minister
Samuel Pettagrue on all charges in a corruption case.
The jury returned the guilty verdict on all 48 counts late this
afternoon.
McClain is a six-term legislator, but he will forfeit his office
because of the conviction. The governor will have to schedule a
special election to fill it.
Prosecutors said Pettagrue accepted nearly $760,000 in state
grant money obtained by McClain to run a nonprofit foundation and
then gave McClain more than $300,000 in kickbacks.
McClain said after the verdict that all of his dealings with the
minister were above board.
U.S. Attorney Alice Martin says the conviction sends a message
that politicians can't get away with putting public money in their
pockets.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)