By FITSNews || A woman whose corporate whistleblowing spawned Congressional hearings now wants to see S.C. Senator Jakie Knotts investigated for his ties to a convicted felon, according to a new report from WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.).
Ann Messner is a former employee at StarTech, a firm run by controversial Knotts’ associate Weldon Waites. Both Waites and StarTech are now at the center of a federal fraud investigation.
From the WIS report:
StarTech was supposed to provide staffing to federal buildings, but became the subject of a congressional hearing after it stopped paying its employees.
Weldon Waites testified that it was because a finance company called a loan. But Ann Messner, StarTech’s former general manager, said Waites used company money to pay for his $300,000+ salary, a beach-front condo in North Myrtle Beach and a consulting fee for his friend, former police officer Senator Jake Knotts.
“As former law enforcement, if nothing else with his reputation on the line, he should have been the first one sounding the alarm,” said Messner. “Something’s wrong, let’s find out what it is and fix it.”
Knotts’ attorney, Jake Moore, told WIS that the story was “much ado about nothing,” and as much as we hate missing an opportunity to make these good ole boys squirm, the truth is this report really isn’t much more than a rehash of information WIS has already published.
Still, it’s being blasted to NBC affiliates all over the state, which means it’ll be news whether it’s “old news” or not.
Incidentally, Waites also has connections to U.S. Reps. Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson and John Spratt – two incumbent Congressmen who are up for reelection in 2010 (with credible challengers).
Knotts isn’t up for reelection again until 2012.
By Jake "Cement Shoes" Knottsy February 11, 2010 at 7:46 pm
WIS also said old Knotts-Botts used Startech resources to “guard his parking spot at USC football games” – guard from whom? where is it?
Got to give it to the guy though, Billy. Someone who’s ballsy enough to use campaign funds to pay his Lizards Thicket tab (and what a tab it is) deserves fake security and kickbacks from shady Rezko-like friends.
By Insider February 11, 2010 at 8:04 pm
ohhh and there is much more to come…mmmuuhhhhaaaaaaahhahaaaaa!!!
By Zack February 11, 2010 at 8:12 pm
No wonder Jakie has backed off the Jean Toal investigations over at the Senate Judiciary Committee of which he is a member. She would be the one who would ultimately “judge” him. It all makes sense now.
By beentook2 February 11, 2010 at 10:39 pm
This is one cockroach that truly believes he can survive a nuclear blast.
I have little to zero confidence in the Feds but with a little luck and if a few more citizens like Ms. Messner step forward, this cockroach will soon be able to evaluate the Department of Corrections from the inside.
By Louisa February 12, 2010 at 12:46 am
Knotts, our “law-and-order” legislator, sat in on a five-man Judiciary subcommittee chaired by Vincent Sheheen, concerning Mike Rose’s proposed “Fraud, Waste and Abuse in State Agencies Hot Line” bill.
Not surprisingly, Knotts, voted in the full Committee against the bill. Along with McConnell, who argued against it strenuously. Mightily. Forcefully. Curiously…
In states that do have statewide “Hot Lines” — New Jersey and Ohio in particular, it is the (knowledgeable) legislators themselves who are most active in “reporting on” the corruption they witness first hand.
What does Jake Knotts, the “law officer,” have against “hot lines”?
An idea whose time has come.
By John February 12, 2010 at 5:42 am
Jake Moore is the perfect person to be Knott’s lawyer.
He has not a moral fiber in his body. They are the perfect match.
By John February 12, 2010 at 5:52 am
Just watched the video again, and wow, the deadbeat Waites using OUR Senate offices to waive off creditors. What an “implied” threat that the State’s power can come down on you Mr. Creditor!
Do these people (Knotts, Moore, etc) have no shame. The Senate should sanction Knotts for converting Senate assets to personal use!
By Ynotfirst February 12, 2010 at 7:28 am
KNOTTS KNOWS WHAT SANFRAUD really did in Argentina. Gotta get rid of him.
You all know Knotts does his own investigations right?
Well, he has a big ole pile of papers all about Mark Sanfraud’s ” hike” ie” “project”.
By Soft Sigh From Hell February 12, 2010 at 7:59 am
How does Jackleg-Jake have time for this what with running the day-to-day interference at DHEC for his polluter friends?
By Dexter February 12, 2010 at 10:39 am
All this as Baby Joe wants to be SC’s top prosecutor. On the campaign trail, Fredo Wilson talks a lot of smack that he the right prosecutor for the job but it sounds like he and his dad’s controversial friends may need the services of an AG sooner than they thought. While what they really may need is an attorney who passed the bar the first time. An attorney general in their pocket could not hurt. Not so long ago, the AG’s office was a place of integrity. Based on what we already know about Alan and what we now know about Joe and their friends it is clear he is not the independent prosecutor that we need as our Attorney General.
By Cooter Brown February 12, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Why, Jakie iz a paragon ov virtue! (cough, gag, spit!).
By Haha August 25, 2011 at 11:36 am
Pleeeeze – nothin’ gonna happen to Jakie and nothin’ anyone can do about it. He is best friends with Sheriff Metz and several other of the long term politicos in this state that have a stranglehold on how things go and to whom they go in SC. It was the Sheriff’s Assoc who pushed Keel into office and Jakie who got the votes in the legislature. You really think anyone here is gonna look into anything he does?
By Haha August 25, 2011 at 11:37 am
The only thing that will ever so much as slow these folks roll are mandatory tem limits for ALL elected offices.
By Haha August 25, 2011 at 11:38 am
that should have read mandatory TERM limits for all elected offices – hell, for the appointed ones too as it is the elected ones doing the appointing!