S. Carolina lawmaker sends Confederate Christmas cards to colleagues

A South Carolina lawmaker has sent out a Christmas card featuring a photo of the Confederate flag that refers to “memories of a happier time” and suggests those who voted to remove the flag from in front of the Statehouse ask God for forgiveness for their “betrayal.”

Rep. Chris Corley said Thursday that he sent the cards to his Republican colleagues as a joke. He says he sent a card with a photo of his children to others.

The card displays a photo of the flag when it still flew in front of the Statehouse. Lawmakers voted in July to remove the banner in response to the fatal shooting of nine black parishioners in a Charleston church.

The suspect in the shooting was seen in photos posing with the Confederate flag.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "S. Carolina lawmaker sends Confederate Christmas cards to colleagues."