Democrats to remove Bethune from House 64 primary

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Democratic Party says it is taking steps to remove Willie Lee Bethune from the June House District 64 primary after his conviction for Medicaid fraud.

The Sumter Item reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/1eKac4W ) that Party Chairman Jaime Harrison says the party is acting after Bethune was convicted of 10 counts of Medicaid fraud. Bethune was sentenced to a year in jail last week.

The change will leave Rep. Bobby Ridgeway, D-Manning, without a challenger.

Bethune was found guilty of forging signatures on documents filed with the federal government when he was a contract social worker for a counseling services group associated with Clarendon County District One schools.

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Information from: The Sumter Item, http://www.theitem.com