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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Federal investigators say a South Carolina Transportation Department employee violated a prohibition against government workers involved in federally financed programs from running for elected office.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Tuesday it filed a complaint against Richland County Councilman Norman Jackson for violating the Hatch Act.

OSC officials say Jackson knew about the restrictions when he ran for Richland County Council in 2010.

Jackson was won the general election and was first elected to the council in 2006. He says no one contacted him after his 2006 victory and that he will fight the OSC case. He has worked at DOT since 1978.

Jackson could be removed from state employment and prohibited from working for a state agency in South Carolina for a year and a half.

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