EU lawmakers replace disgraced VP as suspect cuts plea deal

By LORNE COOK
Associated Press

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — European Union lawmakers have voted to replace a disgraced former parliament vice president suspected of involvement in a major corruption scandal. Former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili was removed from her post after she was taken into custody early last month facing charges of corruption, money laundering and membership of a criminal organization. Her political group in the assembly, the center-left Socialists and Democrats, has been hardest hit by the affair. It’s nominee, Luxembourg lawmaker Marc Angel, was chosen in a secret ballot to replace Kaili. Wednesday’s vote came a day after a key suspect in the cash-for-influence scandal made a plea bargain with prosecutors, raising the prospect that more names might surface.