It's official. The 32-year-old unemployed man representing the Democratic Party in South Carolina's US Senate race has been indicted. Alvin Greene, who won his party's primary in June to the surprise of...well...everyone, was indicted today on two charges including a felony charge of showing pornography to a teenage student.

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According to authorities, Mr. Greene approached a student in a University of South Carolina computer lab, showed her obscene photos online, then talked about going to her dorm room. A Richland County grand jury indicted Greene for disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity (a felony) as well as a misdemeanor charge of communicating obscene materials to a person without consent. If convicted, Mr. Greene could face up to three years for the misdemeanor or up to five years for the felony. (source)

The indictment comes just one day after Mr. Greene attended a meeting of the South Carolina Democratic Party executive committee and gave only his second speech since his primary win. The candidate asked the audience of approximayely 50 people to support him in the fall election against US Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Green Party nominee Tom Clements and write-in candidate Mazie Ferguson. The entire address lasted 23 seconds. (source)

State party leaders have already attempted to remove Mr. Greene from the ballot both procedurally and by encouraging him to withdraw. None of those efforts were successful. Will this indictment spur another round of attempts? While South Carolina law prohibits convicted felons from serving in state office, there is no such restriction regarding the US Senate so today's court action may not give party officials new grounds for his removal. Mr. Greene has consistantly stated he will stay in the race despite his legal troubles.

UPDATE: Shortly after the indictment, State Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler released a statement which read in part, "In June, I asked Mr. Greene to withdraw his candidacy because of the charges against him. Following today's indictments, I repeat that request. It will be impossible for Mr. Greene to address his legal issues and run a statewide campaign. The indictment renews concerns that Mr. Greene cannot represent the values of the Democratic Party or South Carolina voters." (source) No response yet from the Greene campaign.