Mo. Democratic rep. resigns over bribery

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Missouri state Rep. Talibdin El-Amin offered his resignation to Gov. Jay Nixon Wednesday, Nixon's office said.

"There is simply no place in public service for those who are involved in bribery," Nixon said in the statement. "I have notified the Missouri Secretary of State's Office of a Feb. 2 special election to fill this vacancy."

El-Amin dealt another blow to the Missouri Democratic Party when he pleaded guilty Thursday to taking a $2,100 bribe. He later told the St. Louis Post-dispatch he would resign.

El-Amin is the third Missouri Democratic legislator in a month to enter a guilty plea in federal court and quit. State Sen. Jeff Smith and Rep. Steve Brown appeared in court in late August.

The charges against El-Amin were unrelated to those against Smith and Brown.

El-Amin waived indictment and admitted accepting a bribe from a gas station owner. He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 14.

While El-Amin, a former auto worker, had been in the legislature only since 2006, he had become known for sponsoring legislation that brought him publicity. He introduced a bill to regulate sales of baking soda, which is used in making crack cocaine.