SC ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY LOOK INTO GOVERNOR’S INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT DEAL
FITSNews – March 9, 2008 – S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster is weighing an investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford‘s involvement in a controversial Lowcountry development deal, sources tell FITSNews.
Several State Senators are reportedly pressuring McMaster to launch an inquiry into Sanford’s advocacy on behalf of Chaffin/Light, a Lowcountry development firm whose founder contributed several thousand dollars to the governor’s political campaigns. Sanford aggressively pushed for Chaffin/Light to purchase and develop the state-owned Port of Port Royal property in Beaufort, S.C., although the governor claims he did not specifically instruct his State Ports Authority Chairman to choose the firm he was recommending.
Chaffin/Light ultimately lost out on the sale, but not before Sanford raised questions concerning the morality of the winning bidder. According to an e-mail obtained by FITSNews, Sanford is said to have accused Hilton Head Island developer David Staley of being a “womanizer.” Staley’s firm won the bid to develop the property, although the sale is still pending.
Last week, an effort to have the Senate launch its own investigation into the matter was defeated after Senate President Glenn McConnell said cryptically that the chamber should serve as the “jury” in the case, and not the “top cop.”
Some have interpreted McConnell’s comments as being supportive of an investigation by McMaster -Â rumors which have picked up steam given the fact that both McConnell and McMaster use Richard Quinn & Associates to handle their political destinies. Like most establishment political consulting outfits in South Carolina, Quinn’s firm has frequently clashed with Sanford since his 2002 election.
While it remains unclear at this point whether McMaster will investigate the governor’s involvement in the deal or not, two Senators who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity claim they have uncovered a “smoking gun” against Sanford, who is on the record saying that he did not specifically instruct his Ports Authority Chairman to sell the property to any particular bidder.
These Senators point to an e-mail drafted for the signature of Ports Authority Chairman Bill Stern, an e-mail that was obtained by the Senate Finance Committee under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
In the e-mail – which Stern apparently never sent to Sanford – the governor’s involvement on behalf of Chaffin/Light is specifically characterized as an instruction, not a recommendation.
Sources close to Stern – who is also a Sanford contributor – say that the e-mail inaccurately reflected Stern’s recollection of Sanford’s specific language concerning the deal, which is why it was never sent to the governor.
“It was a working draft, not a document that was ever sent,” our source says. “Stern decided not to send the letter but rather to meet with the governor in person.”
Attorney General spokesman Mark Plowden said Sunday evening that “as of Friday (March 7),” McMaster’s office is “not involved in any Sanford investigation, nor have we been asked to be involved.”
Developing …
By old bike dude March 9, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Don’t you people understand that the Goveneloper is only interested in safeguarding the taxpayer’s money. Even if that means he has to personally have his Brother In Law (hizzoner de mayor) get involved. After all we can’t trust those local yokels in Port Royal. We need those refined yankee transplants who run Beaufort to oversee this delicate deal.
You gotta problem with that?
By anonymous March 9, 2008 at 10:32 pm
The same standard that Governor Sandord applied to firing of the Director of Public Safety over the trooper incident for using the N-word should also be used on Sanford. In other words, if a public official(Public Safety Director) is going to be fired over words that one of his troopers used, then Governor Sanford should be fired for the words that he uses.
By Todd March 10, 2008 at 10:11 am
As bad a job as the Attorney General’s office has done investigating Jean Toal and her shenanigans, the Governor is safe – no matter what he has done or not done. “Smoking guns” or not.
By big wallie March 10, 2008 at 10:19 am
“Might” investigate?
It “might” rain today.
It “might” rain tomorrow.
There “might” be a winning football season at USC.
“Might” shoud not be a word used in a headline or in any journalistic endeavor.
“The State” does this all the time. They continuously print what :might” be plans for some or the other development/business investment.
Coulda, shoulda, woulda?
By truthseeker March 10, 2008 at 11:51 am
I think this is an informative piece of journalism. Several of our state senators( who are they?) want our AG to investigate our Governor.
What is the smoking gun? Inquiring minds want to know.
The State Ports Authority is setup so as to intentionally keep the public in the dark- contracts are kept secret from public scrutiny as the agency asks for hundreds of millions of dollars in road construction funds.
The SPA economist- Al Parish- is getting ready to go to jail for fraud.
Having the Attorney General sniffing around is a good thing for the taxpayers – no telling what he could uncover if he really did some serious investigating..
By anonymous March 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Disappearance of John and Liz Calvert
“We have some idea that they knew something someone didn’t want them to know. Sounds like an episode of Law & Order but there are several things that make the closest of friends and family believe Liz and John have been the victims of organized crime. That is what I believe … it is too strange a series of events for me to believe anything else”.
FULL ARTICLE:
http://crazyladytalk.blogspot.com/2008/03/disappearance-of-john-and-liz-calvert.html
By anonymous March 18, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Port of Port Royal sale falls through
Tom Gardo, who represents Port Royal Harbour, said in a news release today that the company couldn’t afford the property in the time allotted.
“Port Royal Harbour and its financial partners were fully prepared to move forward, but unfortunately in the chaos of today’s financial markets across the United States, the parties were not able to secure the kind of funding necessary to complete the transaction,†he said.
http://www2.beaufortgazette.com/story/18551
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IS THIS THE SAME TOM GARDO?
“Club Group Ltd. representative Tom Gardo (see Gerwing Coworker Shocked by Disappearance, Suicide) was also at the news conference listening in, hoping to hear some answers. “There is no leads or they don’t have any more progress,†said Gardo.
“Tom Gardo says the group is cooperating with investigators and will continue to provide whatever they need. In the meantime, they are grieving the loss of longtime coworker and friend Dennis Gerwingâ€.
IS THIS THE SAME TOM GARDO?
“Tom Gardo, who represents Port Royal Harbour, said in a news release today that the company couldn’t afford the property in the time allottedâ€.
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RE: Dennis Gerwing and the Disappearance of John and Liz Calvert of Hilton Head Island, SC