Barrett’s “Week From Hell” Ends With Ethics Resignation
The good news? U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett’s “week from hell” is finally over …
The bad news? There are now officially more questions than answers about the fourth-term Congressman and his once high-flying S.C. gubernatorial campaign.
Barrett’s “hell week” began Tuesday morning when his former press secretary, Brecke Latham, had the editor of South Carolina’s largest new media outlet thrown out of a common-area hallway of a U.S. House office building by the U.S. Capitol Police – an incident that has many political observers scratching their heads.
Latham, who now works for Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran, was one of “several pertinent individuals” that FITS founding editor Sic Willie was attempting to interview in Washington, D.C. as part of his due diligence regarding a story on Barrett’s rumored infidelity.
For more on her epic (and eyebrow-raising) overreaction, read our original story here …
A few hours after this incident took place, Barrett took the stage in Newberry, S.C. with four other gubernatorial candidates for a “first in the state” Republican gubernatorial debate. Before he did, however, Barrett consultant B.J. Boling reportedly showed his boss a copy of the FITS story on his former press chief.
According to sources familiar with his reaction, Barrett “froze.”
He then went on to give an abysmal performance in the debate, earning near-universal bad reviews from those in attendance, the media, even several of his own supporters.
Then, on Thursday, came another dubious move.
Without explanation, Barrett suddenly resigned his position on the House Ethics Committee, with Texas Republican Michael McCaul taking his place on the “Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.”
So … what gives?
“We’re prohibited to comment on any issues in regard to the Congressman’s involvement with the committee,” said Barrett spokeswoman Emily Tyner told Roll Call, the Capitol Hill website that broke the story.
Hmmmm …
Comments
By Bill on September 27th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Go Fits Go
By stimulus on September 27th, 2009 at 9:47 am
damn good story about to BUST open here!
By Karla M. McGowan on September 27th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Excellent! Sic Willie, keep chasing the dragon .
By Natasha on September 27th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Let me guess Sic, you’re driving the debate again, huh?
By McFailure on September 27th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Barrett is going to drop. Henry is going to dumb himself out by not giving that controversial cash back. Andre is gay. Can it really be a Grooms/Haley runoff…..is the GOP that bad off?
By No Name on September 27th, 2009 at 11:08 am
What all the FITS haters can not stand is that the people of SC are flocking to this site….. as more people find out this is the sole news outlet that is willing to expose the “hypocrazy” behavior of this State’s political elites.
If she has not had any involvement with Gresham just come out and say this is bulls*****.
Press the Kansas Congressman on why he gave her the job and what support he will do now that the Ethics resignation has arisen. Harboring infidelity rarely goes over well in any newspaper.
Whats the betting line that she resigns from that position on Monday and moves to Cabin # 2 in the Canadian DWZ( De Willified Zone)resort for humbled SC Gop’ers.
By Upstate Conservative on September 27th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Well, he might have resigned Ethics so he could devote more time to his guberatorial campaign?
That said, he should resign his Congressional seat. If he’s going to continue missing votes because he’s campaigning in SC, he’s not doing the job he was elected to do. Whether Joe Wilson was right or not is another issue, but for Barrett to make a support video and then miss the actual support vote, that’s kind of low.
By alaindelon on September 27th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Kick ass Fits…don’t forget Sanfraud though.He still needs to go!
By George on September 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
How long are you going to make us wait for the proof Will? You’ve been talking about this affair for months. When are you going to put your money with your mouth is?
By Archibald on September 27th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
FITS,
I think you meant to say “Hell Week” son, you know, like at his esteemed alma mater.
By gOp Sucker on September 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I feel almost like a sucker…believing any conservative in South Carolina is actually conservative. It seems all are falling…why is that?
By Patrick on September 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Will, you’re so full of crap. Did you even ask why he resigned? You’re an idiot with no facts. You’re becoming more irrelevant by the day.
By Rylyn on September 27th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
If you have something spill it or shut the #$()* up. Of the so far announced candidates Barrett is the best thing on the block. I think your closet is not so empty either Willie….What’s this I hear about you and one of the other candidates and I’m not talking about Andre’. I won’t believe that either until I have proof but until you have proof you should put a lid on. I think there is probably enough dirt out there on all the candidates that we end up electing a Democrat just because they don’t care about the closet!
By Soft Sigh From Hell on September 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Brecke is pretty but does not appear the soulmate type.
And speaking of, and to change subjects, how do politicos with no souls to speak of need soulmates?
By Barney Fife on September 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I really hope you have proof that Gresham has had an affair. Because if you don’t, I hope he BBQ’s your butt.
This is becoming a tabloid trash site. If you have proof, show it. If not, go onto something else.
By Laura Campbell on September 27th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Give ‘em Heck, FITS!!! Go Sic!
By BIN News Editorial Staff on September 27th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Someday sic(k) willie will get a job offer from a real tabloid so we can read his reports about space aliens abducting Midlands’ elected officials with a Strom problem. Come on, sic(k) one. If you got him by his shorts, then post proof. If not, come back when you have facts. This cr@p means nothing except you came close to going to jail in Federal handcuffs.
By Strom's Daughter on September 27th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Typical South Carolina politician.
Green pants and white shoes.
By Wyleecoyote on September 27th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Dont forget about our resident LUV GUV he still making the news!!
http://www.upstatetoday.com/news/2009/sep/25/oconee-delegation-sanford-troubles-harming-economi/
WALHALLA — Though they didn’t call him by name, members of the Oconee County Legislative Delegation made it perfectly clear Friday morning that Gov. Mark Sanford’s well-documented personal problems are having a negative impact on economic development in the state.
“I know the climate is not beneficial,” State Sen. Thomas Alexander, who represents Oconee and a portion of Pickens County, told school board, school administration and city and council representatives in his opening remarks. “I’ve talked to people from other areas of the state and they tell us we have some problems going on — from the top I guess you would say.”
Sanford has been under fire since late June, when he first told reporters that his unexplained absence that occurred over several previous days was due to hiking the Appalachian Trail. However, on June 25, the governor admitted in a news conference that he was in Argentina to visit his mistress.
Despite calls for the governor to resign, a cry also echoed from a number of his fellow Republicans, Sanford has steadfastly refused.
State Rep. Bill Sandifer, of Seneca, among the General Assembly members calling for Sanford to step down, said the state has taken a huge hit in economic development as a result of the negative publicity the governor has generated.
“Our situation that Thomas referred to is a huge handicap for South Carolina to recover,” Sandifer said. “I feel, at some point, that has to be addressed.”
Sandifer said he recently met with former Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat who preceded Sanford and is currently working as an economic development recruiter for the state. During their conversation, Hodges confirmed just how severe the fallout has been from business and industry since the governor’s situation came to light.
“He has talked to several companies and they say ‘no way, no how’ under the current situation,” Sandifer said. “That gives you an idea of how pervasive the situation is.”
State Rep. Bill Whitmire, of Walhalla, did not comment as to whether the governor is negatively impacting economic development in South Carolina during his remarks.
While legislators are concerned over the lack of new economic development taking place in the state, Sen. Alexander said the General Assembly must also focus on keeping existing industry intact.
“We need to do all we can to maintain the jobs we have to make sure the companies we have here are competitive in this worldwide economy and we need to provide the focus to help them be successful in our community,” Alexander said.
By Calhoun Fawls on September 27th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Joe Wilson for Governor
By Patriot on September 27th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Barrett is just another NWO pretty boy talking the talk that means NOTHING to the individual, but everything to corporate America and the military industrial complex. Please don’t fall for the republican/democrat game, third party all the way.
By nemo on September 27th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Calhoun, how Joe Wilson pays for our health insurance premiums instead. Your hero single handedly ensure the Dems health care plan will pass congress with mandates, a public option, and fines.
By Toyota Kawaski on September 28th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Yes darling Nicki we can help get you traction by making up CRAP.No problem dont worry we can pull the wool hell we have been doing it for years.BTW thats not the only place you will be tossed from in 2009!!!
By Jeffy01 on September 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Governor Bauer……its as certain as the fact that BIN has no life.
By Brandon on September 28th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
One interesting observation was Andre working the crowd at The Citadel game Saturday…Blood in the water?
By Toyota Kawaski on September 28th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
man that Andre is fast because he was working the crowd selling pictures of WB on thursday in cola
By Brecke Let'em on September 28th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
BIN why do you keep coming back and reading? You certainly devote a solid chunka your life to this website. When W is right on this one, I will be eagerly anticipating your next comment.
Meanwhile, I am enjoying watching Sic chip away at the field of SC GOP Gov candidates.
By southernmapart on September 28th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Some of y’all may be think Brecke Latham is the story. You need to do a 180 in the way you are looking at this. However, she may be a source.
After the summer of the LuvGov, it may have become vogue to “confess” to a sideline relationship with an attractive woman.
… waiting to see how this one works out. Sic ‘em Willie.
By beachbum1966 on October 3rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I like Barrett, and especially the Confederate flag statement. We lost the ACC baseball tourney over what? Something that belongs in a museum? Sad… pathetic