Charges Dropped against Paul's Campaign Manager

A judge has dismissed charges against Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign manager, leaving two other campaign operatives to stand trial on charges alleging they secretly paid an influential Iowa politician for his endorsement.

U.S. District Judge John Jarvey dismissed John Tate from the case Friday. He says an agreement Tate signed prior to FBI interviews limited how prosecutors could use what he said. Charges that he was untruthful could be refiled later in a separate case.

The ruling leaves Paul's 2012 deputy campaign manager, Demitrios Kesari, and Jesse Benton, a long-time political adviser, to stand trial in Des Moines.

Benton faces one count of making false statements and Kesari faces five charges, including conspiracy and obstruction.

Prosecutors allege they hid payments to a former state senator who endorsed Paul.