Story highlights Jesse Benton was charged with allegedly participating in a scheme to pay a former Iowa state senator $73,000 to endorse Ron Paul

Benton was campaign chairman for the presidential run of Rand Paul's father at the time

Washington (CNN) A federal jury on Thursday acquitted a top strategist for the pro-Rand Paul super PAC on charges that he lied to FBI agents.

Jesse Benton, who served as General Consultant to America's Liberty PAC, was charged with allegedly participating in a scheme to pay a former Iowa state senator $73,000 to endorse Ron Paul, Rand Paul's father, in the lead-up to the 2012 Iowa caucuses.

Benton resigned his post with the super PAC when he was indicted, his attorney Roscoe Howard said, adding that he assumes Benton will soon return to the PAC.

Ron Paul's former deputy campaign manager Dimitrios Kesari, who was indicted along with Benton, was found guilty Thursday of causing a false record and was acquitted on five other counts, said his attorney, Jesse Binnall.

"It's a day of mixed emotions for us and we're going to evaluate all of our options going forward," Binnall said, adding that his client maintains his innocence.

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