(1) No elected state official, elected state district official, appointed state official or member of the judiciary shall use his official authority or influence to coerce, by threat of discharge from employment or otherwise, the political action of a person or body.
(2) Any official who violates this section shall be subject to removal from his position by proceedings initiated in the circuit court by the Office of the Attorney General, on his own motion or on relation of another; and any official so found in violation of subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor in office and imprisoned for a term not less than one (1) year or more than five (5) years or fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both. Funds appropriated for the position from which any official is removed under the provisions of this chapter shall not thereafter be used to pay the salary of such individual.