North Carolina GOP chair, major donor charged with briberya

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The chairman of North Carolina's Republican Party and a secretive big-money donor are facing federal bribery and wire fraud charges. They're accused of trying to sway an insurance regulator's decisions in favor of the donor's insurance companies.

State GOP Chairman Robin Hayes and investment firm founder Greg Lindberg are among four people charged in federal indictments unsealed Tuesday.

Hayes and a Lindberg spokesman didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Federal prosecutors said Hayes, Lindberg and two Lindberg associates promised or gave Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey millions of campaign dollars to do things Lindberg wanted, such as seeking the removal of a deputy insurance commissioner responsible for examining Lindberg's Durham-based business.

Lindberg has given more than $5 million to North Carolina candidates, party committees and independent expenditure groups.