By Associated Press and Michael Zennie Three more Mississippi Tea Party activists - including a party official - have been arrested over a photo taken of the ailing wife of longtime Republican Senator Thad Cochran. Authorities say the men were hoping to use the photo of Rose Cochran, taken in her nursing home without her permission, as part of a campaign to allege that Cochran had an affair with another woman. The picture of the senator's spouse, who has lived with dementia for 13 years, infuriated him and prompted a criminal investigation. It has also threatened to consume the Republican primary and undermine challenger Chris McDaniel - whom the suspects all support.
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Mark Mayfield, a Tea Party board member, school teacher Richard Sager and John Mary were arrested Thursday
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The activists were hoping to use the picture of Rose Cochran in an ad claiming Thad Cochran is having an affair
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Mrs Cochran has been suffering from dementia for 13 years and is in hospice care
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The men were hoping to support the campaign of Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel
As we see from the arrests today, these people will stop at nothing to smear Thad Cochran, including a despicable act like the one committed against @placeholder.'