One day after he was charged in an alleged scheme to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Robin Hayes on Wednesday relinquished all of his day-to-day responsibilities as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.
"In the best interest of the party, I make this announcement today and will let our respected officers lead on a temporary basis until our regularly planned party elections this June," Hayes said in a statement.
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Hayes, a former congressman and GOP candidate for governor, announced Monday that he wouldn't seek re-election as GOP chairman, citing health reasons.
A federal grand jury in Charlotte indicted him, Durham businessman Greg Lindberg and two Lindberg business associates last month, but the indictment remained sealed until Tuesday, when all four men surrendered to the FBI and entered not guilty pleas in court.
Lindberg owns or is involved in hundreds of companies, including several regulated by the state Department of Insurance. According to the indictment, he wanted Causey to fire or reassign an unnamed deputy commissioner causing problems for some of the businesses, and he offered up to $2 million in political donations to get it done.
Lindberg has given more than $5 million to North Carolina political campaigns over the last few years, including more than $1.49 million to the state Republican Party. The state party turned around and gave $250,000 of that to Causey's campaign, and the indictment alleges this was an effort to get around state political giving rules, which allow unlimited donations to parties but cap individual campaign contributions at $5,400.
Hayes is accused of agreeing to funnel the campaign money to Causey and of lying to FBI investigators when asked if any discussions had occurred involving Lindberg or his associates about directing some of the money to Causey.
Causey cooperated with federal authorities in the investigation, including recording conversations he had with Hayes, Lindberg and the other two defendants, consultant John Gray and John Palermo, a vice president at Lindberg's Eli Global business and a former chairman of the Chatham County GOP.
Hayes appointed 11th District GOP Chairman Aubrey Woodard as acting chairman of the state GOP. Finance Chair K.D. Kennedy and state party Treasurer Jason Lemons also will assume expanded roles in the party's day-to-day finances.
"We look forward to a swift conclusion to this matter and clearing his name," Hayes' attorney, Kearns Davis, said in a statement. "Meanwhile, Mr. Hayes, in accordance with NCGOP rules, will allow others to lead while he heals from recent health setbacks."