Robert Cahaly – a Republican consultant with ties to S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd and numerous other Palmetto politicians – is at the center of a criminal investigation into potentially illegal robo-calls, multiple sources have confirmed to FITS.
In fact, sources tell FITS that Cahaly – who runs Bonnie Blue Public Relations – is being actively sought for questioning by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for his alleged involvement in a series of anonymous recorded political phone messages.
There may even be warrants out for his arrest (confirmed … see update below and our updated report here).
A month ago, Speaker Harrell reportedly acknowledged to members of the GOP Caucus that Cahaly was acting in his employ when he launched a series of potentially-illegal robo-calls designed to assist his reelection efforts. S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman – who is running against Harrell for Speaker of the House – says that Harrell took responsibility for the calls but lied about the extent of his involvement.
“I confronted him at the Caucus meeting and he admitted it,” Norman told FITS. “He said he knew the robo-call went out but claimed he had not read the text.”
Numerous GOP lawmakers confirmed Norman’s version of events. However, they told us that Harrell had not only read the text of the calls in advance, but that he actually forwarded the specific language uses on the calls to several Republican leaders prior to the Caucus meeting (including GOP Majority Leader Kenny Bingham).
Days after this robo-call dust-up occurred, three female Democratic candidates were targeted with similar anonymous phone messages in their respective campaigns for the S.C. House of Representatives. Those calls targeted Rep. Anne Peterson Hutto (District 115, Charleston County), Rep. Vida Miller (District 108, Charleston and Georgetown Counties) and Christine “Chrissy” Jackson, who is running for an open House seat in Dorchester County.
These calls – also linked to Harrell and Cahaly – asked listeners if they thought these female candidates should “invite (their) fellow Democrat Nancy Pelosi to come and campaign” with them. None of the calls identified who was responsible for the content of the messages. State law (section 16-17-446) provides strict guidelines for robocalls – or “automatically dialed announcing devices.”
In fact, just last year another GOP operative was charged with six counts of making illegal, unsolicited phone calls in Aiken County, S.C. The operative confessed to making the calls (ostensibly on behalf of S.C. Sen. Greg Ryberg) and was allowed to enter a pre-trial intervention program rather than face jail time.
SLED did not respond directly to our inquiries regarding Cahaly.
UPDATE: WIS-TV is reporting that there is a warrant out for Cahaly’s arrest.
***
By ceilidh10 November 2, 2010 at 10:21 am
Remember when the Dems were crooks (Operation Lost Trust) and the GOP rallied? Now the roles are reversed. The GOP is now the party of crooks, and if Haley wins, we have a lying guvner! Wow GOP, what leadership you have! Keeping us 50th is a fulltime job for ya’ll.
By Gary November 2, 2010 at 10:37 am
Ceilidh
>>>The GOP is now the party of crooks, and if Haley wins, we have a lying guvner! Wow GOP, what leadership you have! Keeping us 50th is a fulltime job for ya’ll.<<
You should be thankful that SC is already being looked upon as a forward looking state just because of the emergence of Haley. It will finally have stepped in to civilization from dark ages because the good people of SC will finally reject the corrupt gang of old boys network ( both democrat and republican)which has kept us backward and made us the butt of jokes through out the world. In fact expect substantial investments and job creation in SC because of the different image you are going to get tomorrow.
Now you would not envision this when you have been dumbed down and brainwashed by a few bloggers and liberal media establishment.
By Dabo Swinney's Army November 2, 2010 at 10:41 am
Nice picture of Cahaly. He seems like he has dropped a few pounds.
By crackahasscrackah November 2, 2010 at 10:50 am
Predictions:
1. Cahaly turns himself in tomorrow after successfully avoiding being served with an arrest warrant for more than 48 hours (How hard could it be to find THAT guy?).
2. After being found unfit for “shock incarceration” boot camp ( could you imagine THAT guy doing a push-up), Cahaly is given Pre-Trial Intervention.
3. After completing PTI, Cahaly proudly claims the mantle of Rod Shealy to his prospective clients: “I’ll break the law and win for you.”
4. The U.S. Attorney’s Office indicts Reggie Lloyd and Henry McMaster for obstruction of justice in regard to their Herculean efforts to keep Cahaly from being arrested before Election Day.
By vicupstate November 2, 2010 at 11:04 am
Operation Lost Trust snared House and Senate members of BOTH parties.
One party rule leads to corruption. No secret there.
By Patrick November 2, 2010 at 11:12 am
What exactly does Cahaly do beneficial that someone else cannot do? we need fewer crooks and low-life crooks who are in this profession. Maybe the real scandal is how long it took Loyd to make the arrest. He’s been doing these these things for some time now. They almost had him a few years ago. I’ll wager Ryberg is lauging his ass off today.
By Savannah Kennedy November 2, 2010 at 11:15 am
Cahaly apparently worried about his own hide couldn’t quash the story on the MSM about Ken Ard’s sons DUI. These people are all a bunch of slimeballs and poor judgement apparently runs in the family. There are bad elements in both parties and good people from both parties need to call them out – every time.
By eggaday November 2, 2010 at 12:49 pm
one problem with this issue:
majority of people hang up on robocalls
By Election Day Fun November 2, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Democrats will do anything to distort truth.
By Scooter November 2, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Doesn’t this guy run Ard’s campaign? Why didn’t Will talk about that? And, Ceilidh, I agree with you totally.
By Midwest filly November 2, 2010 at 4:15 pm
This guy pulled similar stunts in Kansas where he is now persona non grata. Hope they get him this time.
By Joe November 2, 2010 at 11:24 pm
What happens to HARRELL?