Ah, transparency … and accountability. It’s a great day for those oft-invoked words, isn’t it?
Sure … just not in South Carolina. And not if S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley is involved.
In fact according to a report posted this week by The Nerve – an insider political blog based in Columbia, S.C. – Haley’s most recent ethics scandal has taken a decidedly anti-transparent twist.
First, some background: Earlier this year FITS exclusively reported on a previously undisclosed car crash involving Haley – one in which a state vehicle was damaged while illegally transporting Haley to a campaign-related event. This quickly turned into a statewide story – and the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC) indicated it was going to hold Haley accountable for her actions.
In fact the agency prepared a letter outlining Haley’s violations.
The very next day, though, the head of the SCSEC flip-flopped – giving Haley a hall pass on her violation.
How was Haley able to get out of trouble so quickly? Easy: The same way she previously got out of trouble with this agency – by holding its commissioners’ jobs over their heads.
Now, according to The Nerve, the letter drafted by the SCSEC outlining Haley’s violations has been … destroyed.
“The letter was destroyed, both hard copy and electronic copy,” SCSEC director Herb Hayden told the blog.
Wait … what?
That’s flagrantly illegal, people … which is probably why Hayden declined to answer any further questions about the matter.
FITS attempted to reach Hayden regarding the deleted document but he did not return our calls.
Deleting public records is nothing new for Haley. In fact she went through a major scandal last year after she was caught deleting emails – and withholding documents from reporters that were sought under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Of course her spokesman recently referred to hers as “most transparent administration in South Carolina history.”
34 comments
I hope you were as good at destroying her kitty as she is at destroying evidence.
2014 will either be a glorious year for South Carolina, or another affirmation of our hopelessness.
I’ll wager on the latter, unfortunately. The people who love her in spite of all this are the true low-info voters.
You think Sheheen whose strings are pulled by Harpo and Toal is better than Haley? Hmmm. Interesting.
I do think Sheheen would be an improvement, but you’re also neglecting potential primary opponents for Haley, which is what I really think would endanger her reelection bid.
I surely hope someone does run against her in the primaries (not you, Andre).
Sheheen is just as must a lawless rogue as the rest of them.
I will not argue with that. I do believe my grandmother was right when she used to say that she believed in giving all of the crooks a fair shot at any given office. That was her way of expressing her anti-incumbent leanings, back in the day.
While I don’t believe Sheheen will be an improvement and I don’t care for Sheheen, at least him going in office would not be rewarding Haley’s already rock-bottom performance with another four years in office to loot and pillage as she has done for her first three years.
At this point in time, my plans are to vote for the most interesting third-party candidate in the 2014 gubernatorial race, provided that someone doesn’t eliminate Haley in the primaries. While voting for a third party will increase Sheheen’s chances, I am prepared to let the chips fall where they may and that way when he starts screwing up shit, I can say with truthfulness that I didn’t vote for him, either.
God, I hope Michael gets custody. If not, those kids don’t stand a chance. Maybe she can get those Orangeburg County records against her parent’s totalling near half mill. destroyed. SCBT against Ajit and Raj…$389,000. Now that’s a judgement.
Like a snail, leaves a trail
I thought the Original 6 paid those off?
Speaking of the Original Six…why is their contact phone number a land-line based in Bamberg? Maybe Marie knows why.
Nikki Haley only cares about Nikki Haley!
Even Miss Suzanne thought she was a low life.
Had Nixon just burned the tapes, he’d still be President!
STILL!
What tapes?
I am too old. The White House Watergate internal recordings and the Rosemary Woods 17 minute gap in her tapes of President Nixon’s conversations. It’s a misdemeanor to destroy evidence not tapes no impeachment. A good criminal attorney would have told him to burn the tapes. Too bad he didn’t have a good criminal attorney.
Thanks – I was just being sarcastic ……
You should have kept the panties, Will. You’d be her Chief of Staph.
And…she’ll be re-elected. All the sheep say “baaa.”
there is no honor in SC government. they don’t even pretend anymore.
Same thing as court records being intentionally lost or stolen or court reporter records being lost or stolen within days or a few weeks of a hearing whereas they were generated; records that would destroy legal careers of SC judges and attorneys. This is no bullshit. Seen it. They knew certain records would be use against them – records that would end their careers in the law. The system is so corrupt, it is like the Soviet Union. But there is no place for them to run and no place for them to hide anymore. The truth has caught up with them all. And now they must be brought to justice. The winds of change are here. Black clouds are forming on the horizon as thousands of South Carolinians are fed up with this rogue good old boy state. We need another Operation Lost Trust to clean out all the criminals we have working in our government. It is imperative that we take action for the better of ourselves and our society. There is no place for felony conduct in our government – the white collar criminals, that is.
Seriously, Humbly and Respectfully I’m asking, are you making the call to action?
I think Haley sucks, is corrupt, ignorant and worst Governor ever, however, being a member of the SC Ethics Commission is not a J-O-B. What are they going to lose? Their license plate?
Somebody please cut to the chase for me so I do not have to read this whole article – is this another one of those zillions of stories penned on this site heralding the imminent indictment of Governor Haley??
Will Randy be indicted prior to the mayoral election? I am hearing so.
I have heard that too. If Dangerous Dan can’t pull a rabbit or few out of the hat for the Lott family, it might just happen.
Oh, were you talking about Randy Halfass? Sorry, I was thinking about Scott.
Hayden (pimp) and Hazelton (madame) run the state’s second-largest whorehouse.
…
Second only to the Budget & Control Board.
Got a number? Any hotties?
don’t forget photos…..
If Ambler is not a Rambler, they should hire her?!? 8-0
It is easy to see why she calls her self the most transparent governor, can you see anything? Move along, nothing to see here. No documents, no violations, what are you looking at?