A Wake County grand jury issued an indictment that says four prominent North Carolina lobbyists “unlawfully” worked with the North Carolina Spirits Association to provide money that was used to pay for some N.C. lawmakers to attend a lunch, “barrel pick” and reception at a Kentucky distillery.
The four lobbyists cited in the indictments are Kevin Wilkinson of The Southern Group, Bo Heath of McGuireWoods Consulting, Doug Miskew of Public Sector Group and David Ferrell of MaynardNexsen.
The events were part an April 2024 invitation-only tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, according to the indictments obtained by Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman. Travel expenses including meals and accommodations were paid for by “lobbyist principles directly and indirectly through contributions made to Greater Carolina,” according to the indictment…