North Carolina Republican political operative charged with obstruction of justice

The North Carolina Republican political operative at the center of an absentee ballot fraud scheme that prompted the state to order a re-run of a congressional race was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice on Wednesday, local media reported.

The operative, Leslie McCrae Dowless, was charged by the Wake County District Attorney's office, WRAL.com and WSOC-9 reported, citing a statement from that office. Officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Chizu Nomiyama)