JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal indictment alleges that a Missouri nonprofit illegally used charity money to funnel campaign contributions to several Missouri lawmakers.
Former state Sen. Ryan Silvey, former state Sen. Bob Dixon and former state Rep. Ward Franz all confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that they had participated in fundraisers with officials from Alternative Opportunities Inc. But the three Missouri officials said they didn’t know the nonprofit’s resources may have been used for the political fundraising.
None of the Missouri officials are accused of wrongdoing. But the indictment handed down Thursday cites their fundraisers among the acts contributing to a conspiracy charge against former nonprofit executives Tom and Bontiea Goss and former Arkansas state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson. Hutchinson is the nephew of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.