Charlotte Mayor Resigns Amid Corruption Probe

Charlotte, North Carolina mayor Patrick Cannon has resigned hours after being charged with federal public corruption and bribery following an FBI sting.

Cannon, 47, is alleged to have accepted $48,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents. Cannon’s resignation is effective immediately, a city spokesperson told the Associated Press. Cannon said in a letter that he’s resigning because the charges would otherwise create too much of a distraction from the business of running the city, the AP reports.

The U.S. Attorney said Cannon accepted cash, plane tickets, hotel stays and sought more than $1 million more in bribes. The Democrat had been mayor for six months.

[AP]