Knotts Named In DHEC Lawsuit
Brash and colorful in his obstructionism in the South Carolina Senate, recently-reelected Senator Jake Knotts is now being accused of obstructing something else … justice.
Specifically, Knotts has been named as the state lawmaker who’s at the heart of a scandal that’s currently engulfing South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
From last week’s La Socialista:
South Carolina’s environmental protection agency backed away from an investigation of hazardous waste dumping after receiving complaints from at least one state elected official about the probe, a federal lawsuit says.
In a suit filed Wednesday, former investigator Christopher D. Phillips said he was punished for trying to do his job at for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control …
… Phillips said in his lawsuit that the targets of the illegal dumping investigation were friends with at least one state elected official. It says the targets of the probe attempted to get support from state legislators and others to pressure DHEC. The suit does not name the elected officials it says complained.
But the suit does name as defendants DHEC environment division chief Bob King and assistant environment chief Jim Joy, as well as chief criminal investigator Michael Tempel … Phillips said Joy and Tempel told him “one or more†state elected officials demanded “he be taken off the case and punished, if not fired’’ after he reported the results of his investigation to top staff in the fall of 2007.
Phillips was ultimately transferred from his job and moved to another position within the agency, one that did not include the same benefits.
Now, local Internet message boards in Lexington have pegged Knotts as the elected official involved in the dispute, a claim which was verified today by an attorney familiar with the case.
Knotts, who might as well be the “Teflon Don” of Lexington County, is no doubt preparing to get Medieval on somebody, and all we can say is that somebody might want to start learning how to sleep with their eyes open …
Comments
By Robin Green on November 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
This is the very reason that so many think of our Government as being corrupt. Of course they all not like that but the one’s who are give the rest a bad name.
By shallow on November 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I am so sorry to hear that. The big question is, what’s to become of Boom-Boom!? You don’t think the Senator will get so worried about being sued that he’ll leave that precious little dog of his out in the car when it’s 105 degrees outside so that the dog’s brains bake, do you? You know, like he did once before? Thank goodness it’s not summer, at least for dear little Boom-Boom.
By Frank on November 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
“Knotts, who might as well be the “Teflon Don†of Lexington County, is no doubt preparing to get Medieval on somebody, and all we can say is that somebody might want to start learning how to sleep with their eyes open …”
A fine example on why Senators like this should be looked into when serious allegations such as this are brought to light. Even the real “Teflon Don” slipped and got caught. Time will only tell.
By west_rhino on November 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Even teflon degrades under high enough temperatures… when it gets hot enough, not even a Lexington County cardiac center will be able to save Jakie.
By Just the Facts Ma'am on November 29th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Come on, you guys. It’s already been established that the investigation was not halted. The agency determined this was serious enough that the Attorney General should investigate it and possibly prosecute for criminal acts. You’re making something out of nothing (again). Why don’t you chat with the AG’s office to see what they say….oh, that’s right, it would negate your accusations…and you wouldn’t want to be proven wrong (again).
By Mike Honcho on November 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Just like every other time, Jake gets caught doing something potentially unethical or illegal – he will waddle away without a scratch.
By fitsnews on November 29th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
“Just the Facts,”
It is difficult to describe just how small our level of concern with this story is.
Seriously. That’s why we ran it on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when everyone is sleeping off the turkey.
FITS
By Bill on November 30th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Ya’ll are missing the story….it is right there…right there in front of u.
It is that HEAD…look at the size of the damn thing. I heard it had its own zip code. I heard it had the same square footage as Hillarys ass.
That is the story…but is our media willing to write about it? I think not.
By Gene E. Nowak on November 30th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Any time an employee of the state is punished for doing their job we should be extremely concerned. An article about the ensuing law suit is not going to cure the real problem.
The problem will only be corrected when all the guilty are unemployed and in prison. Paying off the complainant with state funds does not send any message to the offenders.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on November 30th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hey, Mike Honcho, Jake scratches his back with a lightening bolt. And, it’s only time before he sticks one up sic(k) willie’s bolt hole. Keep watching and don’t blink. When it happens it will be faster than lightening.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Silence the Noise on December 1st, 2008 at 8:24 am
Knotts is head of the Redneck Mofia…..
By Carl on December 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am
Jake Knotts is just an insecure child. This story is just one of many of how he pushes his weight, a lot of it, around to try and make himself important. Most of Lexington appeases him by agreeing to his face and blowing him off behind his back. It is just something most of us have grown to do over the years to keep from having to argue with him. Have you not noticed everything Jake does there is controversy. If he creates controversy it makes him sound important and makes people choose a side.
By Freddie Guy on December 1st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Watch your back Slick. Jake can destroy you with one Ginormous headbutt from his Ginormous head.
He does not use it to think (or hold hats). He uses it to destroy poeple.
Fred
By ** on December 1st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Silence the Noise,
No. When I asked my husband ‘Who is the head of the Redneck Mafia?’ — during our 15 hour road trip over Thanksgiving — he said “You.” Needless to say, I was “concerned.”
Then again, if you can’t beat them, join them. And BE THE BOSS.
;)
By ** on December 1st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
OK. 108 hour road trip. He is a very stubborn man.