Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) said conservative journalist Charles Johnson has been “very clear” that he was the one who paid a source — and not his own campaign staff —for a story about claims that that his opponent’s campaign paid African-American voters $15 each to support him in the runoff.
McDaniel, in his first interview since Johnson was reportedly subpoenaed about the claims, also said he supported an investigation into the matter.
“That’s a good thing,” McDaniel told the Clarion-Ledger. “I hope as they begin to subpoena documents between Rev. Fielder and others, they’ll get to the bottom of this. I’m glad we’re seeing the wheels of justice move and subpoenas are out there.”
Since Johnson first published the report, Fielder has changed his story, first saying that Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-MS) campaign paid him to do the vote-buying, then saying he was talking about a hypothetical. He later told Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood (D) that he was paid to do the interview by McDaniel communications director Noel Fritsch. Fritsch has denied that he paid Fielder to do the interview and, instead, said it was Johnson who paid Fielder.
“I think Charles Johnson already made very clear, he was the one who [paid Fielder],” McDaniel said. McDaniel added that Fritsch “denies anything to that effect.”
