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Indiana gaming commission continues cooperation with feds over former lawmaker's corruption plea

Indiana Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jennifer Reske said the agency applauds the work of the U.S. Department of Justice fighting public corruption.
Indiana Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jennifer Reske said the agency applauds the work of the U.S. Department of Justice fighting public corruption.

The Indiana Gaming Commission isn’t saying much about a former  state lawmaker who pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges related to a former Indiana casino operator.

But it doesn’t seem like the federal investigation will impact the agency’s work.

Former state Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) agreed to plead guilty to charges that he accepted promises of a job with Spectacle Gaming with a $350,000 salary in return for his support of a 2019 bill,  HEA 1015.

Commission Deputy Director Jennifer Reske said it has been cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice and will continue to do so.

“We very much admire the work of the Department of Justice and the things they’re doing — not only here but in other states — to fight public corruption and we’ll continue to be as supportive as we can,” Reske said.

READ MORE: Indiana legislative leaders rule out any gaming bills in 2024 session

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Legislative leaders  have ruled out any gaming bills in the 2024 session in the wake of the guilty plea. And Reske said the commission hasn’t identified any need, from its end, for legislation.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org  or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5 .

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.