MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Prosecutors have charged Milwaukee County Supervisor Johnny L. Thomas with accepting a bribe in exchange for promoting a company on a county contract.
Thomas was charged Thursday with two felony counts -- one for accepting a bribe and the other for misconduct in office.
Thomas is accused of accepting $500 in cash in an undercover sting operation. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the charges say Thomas also agreed to accept another $500 in campaign donations to move forward with recommending the contract.
The charges say one day after accepting the $500 bribe, Thomas added an item to his committee agenda to extend the contract from the company that he thought was offering the cash.
Thomas' attorney, Mike Maistelman, says Thomas is innocent and will be "vindicated and cleared of all charges."
In a statement, Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway says he is "shocked and saddened' by the charges against Thomas. Holloway says he had no knowledge of the case until it was revealed Thursday.
Thomas, a first-term supervisor, was running for Milwaukee city comptroller but is suspending his campaign.
