S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley was mocked by Democrats and pressured by the media on Thursday as the scandal surrounding her 2008 Lexington Medical Center job application intensified.
S.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler called on the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to launch an identity theft investigation, saying that “only someone with knowledge of a great deal of personal information about the governor, including her Social Security number, a security question and answer, and the user name and password that she created for the application process” could have entered the fraudulent employment information on the application.
“If the governor doesn’t know who filled out the application that lied about her income, and only someone with all that personal information could have done it, it’s time for law enforcement to step in,” Fowler said in a statement. “Identity theft is a serious crime and shouldn’t be ignored just because Governor Haley doesn’t seem to want to discuss it. Someone has committed a crime and should be punished.”
At the S.C. State House, Senator Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg) warned his colleagues that a mysterious “phantom” was on the loose in Lexington County – randomly filling out job applications with inaccurate information.
“Who is sneaking around doing this?” Hutto asked.
Senate Democrats were also forwarding around this anonymously-designed “Wanted” poster …
(Click to enlarge)
How did all of this start?
On February 7, former S.C. Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) chairman John Rainey launched an independent investigation into Haley’s stormy tenure with Lexington Medical Center – which came under scrutiny last year when she was caught flat-out lying about her reasons for leaving the $110,000-a-year job.
Rainey’s investigation – reported exclusively by FITS – included a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Lexington Medical Center seeking a boatload of documents related to Haley.
That inquiry prompted The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper to seek many of the same documents – a search which turned up the job application that Haley allegedly filled out and submitted to the hospital in August of 2008. On that application, Haley listed her 2007 income at Exotica International (the clothing store run by her parents) at $125,000 – and requested that she be paid this same amount by the hospital.
The only problem with Haley’s alleged income declaration? According to federal tax returns – which the Republican candidate belatedly released during the 2010 gubernatorial race – she only made $22,000 from Exotica in 2007.
After initially trotting out her chief of staff Tim Pearson – who has lied on Haley’s behalf regarding Lexington Medical Center issues in the past – Haley herself issued a flat denial on Wednesday night after a town hall meeting in Charleston, S.C.
“I’m not concerned about it. It was a piece of paper that I didn’t fill out, that I didn’t sign, that had no information from me on it at all,” Haley told the Charleston Post and Courier. “I never gave that ($125,000) number.”
“Go on the website and you’ll see for yourself,” Haley added. “I didn’t sign it.”
Haley reiterated her denials to the Associated Press.
“I had no input on that form,” she said. “I did not sit in front of the computer and fill it out online. I did not sign it. And never did I mention the number 125 to the hospital or to anyone else, because that’s not an accurate number.”
As we noted in our initial post yesterday, that explanation strains credulity.
In a follow-up story on Wednesday in The State, a hospital spokeswoman said that no one at Lexington Medical Center modified the application and that anyone fraudulently filling the form out online “would have had to know (Haley’s) social security number, address, job history, past supervisors, job duties, education and other details.”
And in addition to the user name, password and security question, the “forger” would have also had to know Haley’s personal phone number and private email address.
According to a poll of FITS readers taken yesterday, no one is buying the governor’s explanation. Out of 700 votes cast, 96 percent of respondents believe that Haley is lying compared to just 4 percent who believe that she is telling the truth.
***
By costcutter March 18, 2011 at 8:28 am
Governor-I believe you need to come clean. Ask Reggie to send his best agent to determine who stole your identity. Did the phantom also obtain the commission in the SCNG for the first man?
By Jeff March 18, 2011 at 8:31 am
Where the hell was this 96% when it came time to take this state in a different direction under Vincent Sheheen? Hindsight surely won’t fix this fucking mess!
Pingback: Today’s Headlines 03.18.11
By Dumbledore March 18, 2011 at 8:38 am
The Dark Lord has a new Death Eater……the Governor of South Carolina. Send Dementors to Columbia at once. Only Harry Potter will be able to save the day once again.
By Way Cool March 18, 2011 at 8:40 am
Sic – We need an updated picture of Carol Fowler. Hurry, please.
By Fred March 18, 2011 at 8:48 am
I’m with Jeff. All of the Dumbass numbskulls that voted for Haley (%52 or those reading this) deserve the shit that you are getting. I will admit that I was WRONG about Obama if you’ll admit you were WRONG about Haley.
…and the argument same goes for Ard!
Buyers remorse anyone?
Fred
By stimulus March 18, 2011 at 8:48 am
she is a stupid ugly bitch
By Snape March 18, 2011 at 8:51 am
Apparently, Ms. Fowler has fallen ill from a botched potion prepared by Ms. Haley. I have instructed all countless times to not trust anything at the hands of an undisciplined witch.
By Lewis March 18, 2011 at 8:54 am
Brad Hutto commenting on anyone’s integrity, honesty and character…. a Toal servant at best.
By Hagrid March 18, 2011 at 8:56 am
stimulus – Please elaborate. Ms. Fowler wants details.
By jim lewis March 18, 2011 at 9:18 am
OK, you caught me. I am the phantom. I want my reward.
Months ago when I was picking up a friend at the roll and puff house(I did not inhale) I ran into a dark haired beauty wearing nothing but a trench coat who told me to meet her at Fat Buddies Two in Chapin. While eating 20 calabash crispy, 10 hot crispy, order of buddy fries crispy, blue cheese/ranch/celery crispy, cup of honey mustard crispy and a pitcher of amber crispy with Opa and Uncle Blueberry the dark haired beauty flew in, parked her broom and sat down. Again she was wearing only a trench coat. She put a giant hermetically sealed mayonaise jar on the table. From the jar she pulled a brown envelope and said to follow the instructions. Then wham-o, she, her jar and broom were gone.
Please let me know when and where I am to report to work. Oh, if it is OK with my new employer I would like the $110,000 paid up front. Have a great day. No, I am not going to sign this document.
By Jeff March 18, 2011 at 9:24 am
Fred you are correct all the people that voted for Haley and Ard can cry me a river ’cause this shit is all about the idiots that voted the straight party ticket instead of getting off their lazy asses and doing a little research/homework on the individuals running for office. Had any of the 52% that voted for Haley done any reading, studying or background work, without exception, she would not have been elected….but then again, there are those “special” individuals that never will learn…period! As for Ard……He is like Ernest T. Bass On Andy Griffith when Ernest T. said all he wants is a uni-form….Well, all Ard wants is his muuu-niii back! For-pete-fucking-sake!
By vicupstate March 18, 2011 at 9:33 am
UNBELIEVEABLE !! Carol Fowler actually doing her job!
Wonders never cease.
By Elmuchacho March 18, 2011 at 9:50 am
I wish someone would start filling out job applications for me.
By reprobate March 18, 2011 at 9:58 am
Hmmmmm. The plot thickens. Who would have all that vital information needed for the application? Possibly someone who had an intimate (inapropriate) relationship, exchanging whispered sweet nothings in an appropriate moment. Sic, isdat you? hehehe.
By curious March 18, 2011 at 10:17 am
Why are we assuming she lied on the Lexington Medical application? Doesn’t her history demonstrate that it’s more likely she lied on her federal tax return?
By Huhhh??? March 18, 2011 at 10:17 am
There are some people who – we all know them – when given the opportunity to lie or tell the truth, simply prefer to lie.
It usually ends up getting them in trouble because they can’t keep their stories straight, don’t know what’s fact or fiction.
Or, Sic, did you and Nikki damage your brains partying with Thomas Ravenel?
By cash March 18, 2011 at 10:22 am
The husband 65K National Guard will another big story. Snoopers…start snooping. Are you ready to rumble????
By NoName March 18, 2011 at 10:29 am
This one is so obvious……. I can not believe that either Kingfish or BIN can remain silent on this.
Look at the dates….obviously Will filled out the form for Nikki …..as a part of his master plan.
Just like leaking the affair… was a part of what got her elected. Right….
Score a big one for Kingfish.
Whoever reads this site for Nikki….who I assume is a different person from whoever reads this for poor Tim……try pulling up the numerous articles on Martha Stewarts problems and seeing where all this ends up.
Lying and denying….. simply do not work.
Add to this the multiple problems now surfacing….across a wide range of issues…..WOW….the fall will be spectacular.
I am waiting for her denial…. that she does not pays her phone bills….. and thus she does not know who answered her phone the zillion times her number and Will’s seems to be connected.
I would also like to see a further exploration of the “Baurization” of Ard.
Based on the assumption that Mark was left in office because multiple parties of COLA self interest determined that Andre was worse than a castrated Mark. Is it not fair to say that it is Nikki that is making sure that everyone knows that Ard is a bumbling light weight….and not much of an alternative to her.
Kingfish…..you can cut and stain her…..but you have to count on her being self introspective enough to actually feel shame and resign…….not seeing it.
Arguably …..Mark’s tears lowered the bar so much in this State ….that she may find that after all this shit hits the fan….she will be freed from any real leadership expectations and can focus on becoming the national celebrity Comet she so aspires to.
Scary.
By Poppy March 18, 2011 at 10:34 am
Since Haley was hired based on fraud, does that mean the hospital can get its money back?? And what about damages caused to its reputation??? Who would dare go to a hospital that hired a lunatic like Haley?
By Trevor Bauknight March 18, 2011 at 10:37 am
I’d like to be the first to wish the very best of luck to future Governor Glenn McConnell.
By Tubie March 18, 2011 at 10:40 am
Yo Sic – Where is the picture of Carol???
By Groundball March 18, 2011 at 10:41 am
This has been an entertaining two months. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like for four years? One boondoggle after another. I hope Darla Moore runs against her in ’14, if she’s still around!
By Paul March 18, 2011 at 10:42 am
I would like to see her loan applications for her $350,000 house and her $50,000 car. Stated income maybe?
By Mike at the Beach March 18, 2011 at 10:46 am
Again I say; thanks to everyone who drank the Nikki Kool-Aid!
By Horace Slughorn March 18, 2011 at 11:01 am
Friends, these are mad times I tell you, mad times! I was recently meeting with the Slug Club at the Leaky Nightcap, where I heard two DeathEaters speaking of Haley. I am under the impression that Nikki has been placed under the Imperius Curse, not unlike Voldemort’s puppet Pius Thicknesse during his tenure as the Minsiter of Magic. I know that by divulging this information on the Internet I will anger many of my fellow Slytherins who put Nikki in office, however I do not care. Something must be done as she cannot be trusted! Her Patronus is a muskrat, and I’ve even heard from some valid sources that she molested a number of house elves in 2004.
By Big John March 18, 2011 at 11:24 am
I want to be assigned to the same prison cell with her. It will be heaven. Can’t wait.
By Max March 18, 2011 at 11:28 am
Wow, Carol is gorgeous. An absolute knock out. Whew, Sic, I found pictures in a minute. You need to feature her alot more than you have been. Talk about pretty.
By haley is my hero March 18, 2011 at 11:30 am
Seeing her loan documents to support her $350k-400k house and the Cadillac Escalade that she likes to hook up in would be great. Maybe her parents fronted the money and she paid cash. This lady is incompetent and doesn’t even seem to have any real intellect around her in her staff. The lies are mounting up.
By Snape March 18, 2011 at 11:33 am
Horace – Harry told me that Nikki paid those house elves quite well for the pleasure. Draco took pictures and posted them above the fireplace. Take it she likes to bounce the girls against their furry backs.
By I Smell a Rat March 18, 2011 at 11:39 am
How did she land the LMC job?
How much money did she really raise for LMC?
The house, car, clothes, lifestyle don’t match the reported income, and never have…
Has anyone looked into the other past employment she reported? Any truth to that?
This person is a liar and a fraud.
By Varga March 18, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I was one of those that believes she may have told the truth on her application. The lie I believe is on the federal tax return. In any event, one way or the other she told a lie, the specific queestion was did she lie on the application. I would have answered yes if asked if she lied on the tax return.
By cash March 18, 2011 at 12:13 pm
She claims she worked as acct. superv. for FCR in Charlotte, 1994-96. Called for emply. verification, but they could not verify that she was ever employed. HR, however, said they were not sure how far back employment records were kept. Who knows at this point what’s true and what’s fiction.
By Hermione March 18, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Clearly, I believe she lied in both cases. She lied on the tax return to pay less tax. She lied on the application to score more greens. If she had studied more at Hogwarts, she wouldn’t have been expelled and lost all of her magical powers. Being demoted from a witch to a muggle must be hard. Fortunately it rarely happens. Only in the most severe cases.
By Cutie March 18, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Records should be kept forever. SS has it all. I hope Nikki and Tim are balling each other, cos they are both going down hard.
By Step to the Right March 18, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Is does not matter who the governor is in this state. The problem is with the legislature. Haley will be defeated by a true conservative if we can find one in this state. If my choice is between a lying pseudo-conservative over a truthful socialist who thinks making government bigger and using my income to solve every problem that exists, then I vote for the liar every time!
By cash March 18, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Also interesting to read again http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/10/20/another-haley-relative-on-the-taxpayer-dole
By cash March 18, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Lies, lies, and more lies.
By Beau Zart March 18, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Poppy, very coincidental you would mention LMC’s reputation. They’ve advertised they were voted best hospital in the midlands for 8 yrs in a.row. Suddenly, that streak ended. What happened?
As Shakespeare wrote, “oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
The way out of that web is via Iowa and New Hampshire plus a memoir book tour. Tha is, if she can get up even earlier and stay up later writing it before an avalanche of even bigger —- hits the fan.
By Alabaster II March 18, 2011 at 1:21 pm
What are the Sanfords thinking about all this? Why hasn’t Jenny come forward and defend Nikki-the person she endorsed for the governership? It could be that they found out what Nikki is and are now sorry for helping her.
By Rylyn March 18, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Did anyone ever stop and think that Nikki Haley was probably hired by Lexington Medical “Foundation” without an application ever being completed. I bet she sat down across the desk from someone, made a deal and then after she reported for work then she went to HR and completed the paperwork. Remember this was a position that was non-existant before she worked there. I believe an agreement was made on a salary and then it would have looked really silly to pay her $110,000 if her previous salary had been listed as only $22,000 a year so it was listed on the application (after she was hired) at $125,000. – They got a deal. As for only making $22,000 a year working for a family owned business I am certain there are other perks that come with that – automobile expenses, clothing, etc., all of that which just doesn’t show up on a W2 form. Maybe it should show up on a 1099 but it doesn’t always happen that way.
I think if the Governor’s staff would slow down and breath, maybe think a little bit before giving the first explanation that comes to mind – maybe even tell the truth and not just make something up people might understand and accept it. I think that the entire staff is living out some kind of made for TV movie and all want to be “Stars” instead of taking care of business at hand. I have never seen an administration where I actually can pick out the security people (all of them) within seconds of the Governor or her families arrival. The staff ends up in as many pictures as the Governor??? There needs to be some “Maturity in the Governor’s Office”
I suported the Governor and want to continue to do so. I would like to see the administration get back on the straight and narrow and get us off the 7 PM news every night. We have a Tsunami in Japan,a possible nuclear melt down, Riots in Wisconsin, gas prices through the roof, even a triple murder in for God’s sake, Red Bank and all we are reading about is the Governor’s employment application at a place which by the way – she doesn’t work anymore. Let’s get some work done – some productive work!
By ninjapirate March 18, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Rylyn, the AP report…
“”" “”" “”" “”"
I filled out my HR paperwork in the HR office of the hospital,” she said, adding she also signed other forms involving a background check and got her blood tested, among other steps. “That’s when I went and did all those things. That was the time to sign documentation. At no point did I enter information and at no point did they ask me to sign anything like that,” she said.
Haley said she had been on the hospital’s board for years and much of her work and personal information was on file there.
…
Documents obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request appear to verify she had the job and knew her salary. On Aug. 4, 2008, Haley was told she had the $110,000 a year job and needed to show up on Aug. 6 for pre-employment screening and paperwork.
The online paperwork, including a background check and the application, have typewritten responses and are both dated Aug. 5. Haley signed the background check document; but there is no signature on the application.
“”" “”" “”" “”"
http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/16/1738838/sc-governor-disputes-report-she.html
Looking at the news reports of this and the actual application, there’s a lot more I could say but I’d rather just sit back and watch…
BTW, Nikki made another big mistake on that application.
By bqueen March 18, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Rylyn: “The first explanation that come to mind” ought to be the truth. However, because the truth makes Nikki Haley look like the liar she is, they had to come up with other ridiculous explanations like “she did not fill out the application which contains her personal info etc”. Hence she still ends up looking like the liar that she is. And for that reason she needs to be on the 7 pm news until she is no longer our problem.
And as for listing her prior salary as $125k when it never was $125k…ummm…it’s called lyin. Even if it was put on there after she was hired at Lexington Medical. Are you following here? It is still a lie.
By ninjapirate March 18, 2011 at 3:07 pm
“BTW, Nikki made another big mistake on that application.”
Actually, no she didn’t… hmm…
By Rylyn March 18, 2011 at 3:17 pm
I didn’t say it was right – I was just explaining what happened and they should have told the truth to begin with. You are right they never should have lied on the application but I am betting – and this is just a guess and I am sure no one will ever own up to it but I bet LMF never would have wanted her to put she made $22,000 on an application when they had agreet to pay her $110,000. even if they knew it! bqueen – I followed it when I wrote it!
By Joseph March 18, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Yup, I agree with Rylyn. Let’s see, 100%. Any number of things could have happened. Who knows who wrote that figure down. But this panic reaction of Tim & Company reminds me of Sic’s experience. Sic tried to do the right thing. Tim, Nikki & the crew freaked out, put on the full denial coverage against overwhelming evidence. It is Disney World. Nikki acts like a cartoon character. Her pile of email documents plopped on a table late Friday afternoon last year was laughable. She will go to extremes to lie and support them. Tim is just a bad or worse.
By cash March 18, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Does she lie because she doesn’t think she’ll get caught, or does she lie becase she cannot help herself? In other words, is she just stupid or is she a pathological liar? The comet will soon crash and burn.
By Tom March 18, 2011 at 5:06 pm
That’s the best and most accurate photo I have seen of our governor yet.
By baker March 18, 2011 at 5:12 pm
“If my choice is between a lying pseudo-conservative over a truthful socialist who thinks making government bigger and using my income to solve every problem that exists, then I vote for the liar every time!”
Well, there you go.
By Cheryl March 18, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Hey FITS…….Was mickey nickey good as a sex partner, or was it a bj?
By Wendy March 18, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Haley appears to travel in a two car SLED motorcade. She appears to have 4 0r 5 SLED agents along with several local cops around her when she is traveling to out of town locations.
How much does all this cost.
WTF??
By Wilber Force March 18, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Look, who at Lexington Medical Interviewed her for the job???
They had to discuss with Haley compensation and you know the issue of what she made at her last “job” came up because it is a question in the Application. GET LEX MED CEO MICHEAL BIEDIGER IN AN INTERVIEW NOW!!!
By Some one who loves SC March 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm
To all who voted for that talley band witch, you are getting exactly what you deserve. The sad thing is, that we are all gonna suffer. Don’t be surprised if they drop a bomb on us. She truly does not belong here.
By Bert March 18, 2011 at 10:54 pm
To Beau Zart:
See if you can find in Shakespeare the quote about the tangled web. I think you need to look at Sir Walter Scott.
By cash March 18, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Reason why Randhawas settled in Bamberg. Smoking gun.
By Wilber Force March 19, 2011 at 12:32 am
Cash,
Why did the Randhawas settle in Bamberg? I understand they never paid their rent on time there-they must have thought it was a TAX!!!
Cash, give us a further clue to look into ASAP!
Pingback: FITS: SLED Chief Stepping Down
By Viva March 19, 2011 at 1:13 am
Haley makes Christine O’Donnell look honest.
By Not exactly March 19, 2011 at 8:13 am
I’m with curious. I bet she really did make 125, but reported 22.
By cash March 19, 2011 at 9:26 am
Can Haley influence the Feds and IRS? Don’t think so. Bernie Madoff could not. Look at him now. If Haley wants to avoid a similar fate, she will come clean and make restitution. Lexington Med. Ctr. and the Sikh organization are close to coming forward. There will be defamation of character and embezzlement charges.
By Wilber Force March 19, 2011 at 9:56 am
Cash,
You may be right on. I heard the day after the election from a strong source that Haley’s father would be arrested for embezzlement on Thursday, November 4th,2010.
Two more issues:
1.Again, the CEO Biediger and whoever interviewed her for the “job” should be questioned in the $125,000 and
2.The donors to the Foundation during Haley’s time there should be made public to determine IF THERE WERE LOBBYIST’s CLIENTS THAT GAVE UNDER PRESSURE DUE TO HER POSITION/VOTE IN THE HOUSE.
By whackos under rocks March 19, 2011 at 10:30 am
“Where the hell was this 96% when it came time to take this state in a different direction under Vincent Sheheen?”
I’m more worried about the other 4%.
By MajorC March 19, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Bert, you beat me to it. Quote is from Sir Walter Scott.
Beau Zart, go the back of the class…
By Robbie March 19, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Wiber, Cash……..keep us informed in the most recent articles. This is sooooooooo good. Maybe a daily update, please?