OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has disbarred former Omaha state Sen. Brenda Council for using campaign money to gamble at casinos, despite a court-appointed referee's opinion that she should have kept her law license.
A court-appointed referee had recommended late last year that Council receive a one-year license suspension plus two years of probation, noting that she had shown remorse, sought help for a gambling addiction and repaid the campaign funds.
But on Friday, the high court said that did not outweigh that Council had engaged in multiple acts of misappropriation while holding public office.
Council was sentenced to three years' probation and fined $500 last year after pleading guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. She also was fined $500 after pleading guilty to state misdemeanor charges.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.