Holy Small Town Politics, Batman, Under the Dome notes that the district attorney who must decide whether charges will be filed in the shooting incident involving state Sen. R.C. Soles played a role in the federal corruption investigation of the Tabor City Democrat.

The federal government’s 1983 corrpution case against Sen. R.C. Soles included an allegation that Soles tried to buy votes for Rex Gore, a candidate for district attorney in Columbus County.

SNIP

In 1983, a judge threw out the charge and two others and a jury
acquitted Soles on a third charge. But a witness in the trial testified
that Soles gave him several thousand dollars to swing support toward
Soles’ preferred candidates, including Gore.

Gore said he didn’t believe there was a conflict of interest. [my emphasis]

Be sure to read the whole Dome post to learn who defeated Gore in that unusual election.

The State Bureau of Investigation is already looking into Soles’ financial and other dealings with several young men from his home town. For running commentary on the Soles situation, check out John Hood’s dispatches at the Squall Lines blog here.