Investigator: Ron Paul aide gave Iowa state senator $25K

Ryan J .Foley | Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An investigator says Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson received a $25,000 check from a high-ranking official in Ron Paul's presidential campaign days before he ditched Michele Bachmann to back Paul, and ultimately received $73,000 in payments that may be linked to Paul's campaign.

Sorenson resigned Wednesday after investigator Mark Weinhardt concluded Sorenson likely broke ethics rules in receiving $7,500 in monthly income from Bachmann's political action committee and presidential campaign in exchange for working as Bachmann's state chair in 2011.

Weinhardt's report suggests Sorenson left Bachmann's campaign shortly before the January 2012 caucuses after receiving promises of payments from Paul supporters.

Sorenson received a $25,000 check from Paul's deputy national campaign manager that was never cashed. The report says Sorenson's firm soon started receiving suspicious $8,000 monthly payments.