Former Transportation Commissioner John Hardee lied and tried to destroy evidence against him.

That’s what the FBI contends in a filing this week.

Accused is the man who represented Lexington County on the commission and whose name was given to the expressway near Columbia Metro Airport.

Federal investigators had tried unsuccessfully to prove the son-in-law of one of the state’s most powerful politicians, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, took bribes, too, The State newspaper reported.

Leatherman’s family owns a concrete company. 

Hardee, 71, was charged with trying to destroy evidence in the FBI probe. 

According to the filing, Hardee agreed to plead guilty to a criminal felony charge that he tried to destroy evidence and could face 16 months in prison.

The filing does not reveal how much money Hardee received or what for.