Congressman did nothing illegal by talking up now-indicted donor to state official, spokesman says

Political donor Greg Lindberg and his associates used a congressman to try to get a state official to do their bidding, according to a federal indictment charging Lindberg with bribery.

Posted 11:49 p.m. Apr 4, 2019 — Updated 11:49 p.m. Apr 4, 2019

Laura Leslie

, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

RALEIGH, N.C. — Political donor Greg Lindberg and his associates used a congressman to try to get a state official to do their bidding, according to a federal indictment charging Lindberg with bribery.

Lindberg, two of his business associates and North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes face charges that they tried to bribe Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, trading more than $1 million in political contributions in exchange for regulatory help at the state Department of Insurance.

The indictment also makes several references to "Public Official A," who is never named and isn't charged in the case.

Through campaign finance records, WRAL News determined the unidentified official is Republican 6th District Congressman Mark Walker.

Walker is among numerous North Carolina politicians to benefit from Lindberg's largesse in recent years:

On Nov. 30, 2017, Lindberg gave $44,300 to the Walker Freedom Fund PAC.
The next day, he gave $5,400 – the maximum contribution allowed – to Walker's campaign committee.
On Jan. 16, 2018, he gave another $33,900 to the Walker PAC.

That's $83,600 in less than two months.

On Feb. 5, 2018, John Gray, one of Lindberg's indicted associates, texted his boss to say he had talked to Walker about their problem with Causey. That same day, according to the indictment, Lindberg wrote a $150,000 check to a second Walker fundraising PAC.

Two days later, Walker called Causey to say that Lindberg is "doing good things for North Carolina business," the indictment states.

Walker spokesman Jack Minor didn't deny Thursday that Walker made that call or that Walker and Causey discussed Lindberg. But he did deny any wrongdoing by the congressman, who he said isn't being investigated.

"Walker never advocated for Commissioner Causey to take any action and has assisted the [Department of Justice] with their investigation,” Minor said.

Walker and Causey are both from the Greensboro area, and Walker defeated Causey in the 6th District GOP primary in 2014, Minor noted. The two men have kept in touch since then, he said.

"Walker has never made the statement that appears in the indictment," Minor said. "Both of the comments made there [by Gray] are essentially a case of an employee puffing up his authority to impress his employer. They have nothing to do with Walker."

Still, campaign finance expert Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, said the timing of the donations and the phone call look bad.

"It's not necessarily illegal. I would say it doesn't pass the smell test. The perception of it is terrible," Phillips said.

Proving a quid pro quo is difficult, he said.

"You really have to have evidence – a smoking gun, if you will," he said. "There may be one, though, in this case because, again, there are recordings of some of these conversations."

Minor said all of the money from Lindberg over the allowed $5,400 individual contribution went to the Republican National Committee, which can use its resources to help any candidate, including Walker.

Phillips called the amount of money flowing into elections from groups and individuals like Lindberg "almost breathtaking."

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