Political Jabs Continue After Blogger Faces New Charge

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran’s campaign says his Republican primary challenger failed to report a potential crime to authorities after learning someone briefly posted an online video with an unauthorized photo of Cochran’s bedridden wife in a nursing home.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel says he had nothing to do with the video and won’t engage in an “absurd witch hunt.”

Wednesday’s exchange came a day before a scheduled court appearance for Clayton Thomas Kelly. The conservative blogger was charged Friday with exploiting a vulnerable adult. A second felony charge was added Wednesday involving photographing someone without permission.

Authorities say Kelly photographed Rose Cochran in the nursing home where she has lived the past 13 years because of dementia.

The primary is June 3.