Ex-SC Sen. Ford indicted for misconduct, forgery

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former Sen. Robert Ford has been indicted on charges that include misconduct in office, forgery and ethics violations.

Attorney General Alan Wilson said Friday the Charleston Democrat was indicted by the Richland County grand jury. All charges are misdemeanors except forgery, which carries a possible five years in prison.

In May, the Senate Ethics Committee fined Ford $30,000 for violating 15 counts of state ethics law. Officials said Ford took nearly $15,000 out of his campaign account 10 days after resigning last year and used the money to pay bills.

Wilson says Ford improperly benefited from his public office by using campaign money for personal use, then filing false campaign reports and submitting forgeries to Senate Ethics.

An attorney who previously represented Ford didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP