SUSPENDED SPEAKER TO APPEAR IN COURT NEXT WEEK IN COLUMBIA
Suspended S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell will be arraigned on a nine-count corruption indictment at a Richland County, S.C. court house next week, sources tell FITS.
The powerful Lowcountry legislative leader – who stands accused of improperly reimbursing himself from his campaign account and using his office for personal gain – will be arraigned at the Richland County judicial complex on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. EDT, sources familiar with the process tell FITS.
Harrell will appear before S.C. circuit court judge John C. Hayes, III.
A formal announcement of the arraignment is expected soon from the office of S.C. first district solicitor David Pascoe – who took over the Harrell case from S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson earlier this year.
Harrell’s case has been one of the biggest political soap operas of the year – dominating headlines for months ever since Wilson referred it to the statewide grand jury back in January. In May, an ethically compromised circuit court judge ruled that Wilson must shut down his probe and let a corrupt panel of S.C. House members handle the investigation (the same legislative panel that whitewashed S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley‘s ethics scandal two years ago).
Wilson blasted that ruling – joining a chorus of critics of this corrupt self-policing mechanism.
Ultimately, it was ruled that Wilson’s investigation could proceed – although by that point he had already handed over the case to Pascoe.
Harrell has maintained his innocence from the beginning, denying the abuse of power allegations and claiming his campaign finance violations were simple accounting errors.
Guess we’ll find out soon …
UPDATE: Confirmed. Wilson’s office has issued a press release announcing the arraignment.
65 comments
Sic, Are you going to be in the court room. You should remember right where it is.
What do we want?
A perp walk!
When do we want it?
Now!
Let’s hire some cheerleaders and have them stand outside the Solicitor’s office and shout your cheer.
I’m in.
Make large signs calling him a “Felon” and “Scam Artist” …. the TV crews will capture it.
The people need term limits and recall elections now!!
The legislature is incapable of policing themselves and the Ethics Committees are UNETHICAL!!!!
Bobby Harrell Haiku:
When the jerk’s in the
crib ma drop it like it’s hot
drop it like it’s hot
No duck walk
No geese!
Maybe a frog march!?!
Notifying all the major media networks. It will be plastered all over the news from coast to coast. It will also be reported with the questions regarding why more serious felony charges have not been brought against him. Wilson is going to be turned inside out. And so will the Statehouse. There will also be reports of why there have yet to be any federal charges against him and other suspects in his circle.
South Carolina, with its quaint, British Colonial history and ways, “names” felonies by offense. If not specifically named as a felony, it is automatically a “misdemeanor”. As noted in previous blogs, there are several [?many?] “misdemeanors” which carry long sentences – some up to 20 years in the “old” narcotic laws prior to 1971. (As an aside, this is why the President of the United States can be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors”, using the quaint language of our early Constitution).
The Feds now have a nice, clean system: If the crime carries a sentence of more than a year, it is a felony; if it is a crime that carries a one year sentence or less, it is a misdemeanor (hence, the sentence of “a year and a day”).
Nice job.I just saw a report about this on the Cartoon Network.TVLand has interrupted Texas Ranger and Obama is going to address this from the White House tonight.
Dumbass.
Here in Colorado, when I hear people complain about the Dems and wanting the GOP to take over, I tell them to be careful what they wish for and point out my old home of SC. I also point them to this site. They quit complaining after that. Thanks everybody!
Do you do that in between tokes or before and after?
My first thoughts, an idiotic dope smoker.
No, just an adult who chooses to live where you actually have a little more freedom, than stay in a backwards ass state like SC. SC is only good for people who like to bitch, instead of actually doing something about it.
Suits me, keep your ASS there and out of SC. We have enough problems with these corrupt politicians here already!
Don’t worry. If it wasn’t for family, I’d never be back. Sorry, just can’t compare in any way to Colorado.
Both. Why? Should I stay drunk like most of SC? It would explain a lot about that place.
Lol….you POS’s in Colorado get into power and proceed to scare the fuck out of the voters.Nasty ass American haters that stay doped up all day and suck that cock at night.
Go take a shower. I can smell you thru my screen.
Uh, OK? You’re the only person who seems scared. Nobody scared here in CO. People are pretty happy, actually.
Obviously, that’s why the northern half of your state wants to secede…
Worked well for you guys, huh? Yeah, there are retards here too. They just don’t run the show, like in SC.
Did you “happy” and “high” Colorodoians recall some of your liberal Dems. recently?
I seem to remember. Guess you are so smoked up, you don’t remember!
Bur, for me, I’m fed up with our lying, corrupt, incompetent haley too.
Yes. And what of it? People like their guns here. Pueblo and one part of Colorado Springs hardly represent the whole state. Letting these Tea Tards into power is a huge mistake. Look at SC and, our neighbor, Kansas’ economies with Republicans at the helm. And a smoked up person has to point this out to you?
He is not in Colorado. He is a fake. A troll looking for reactions.
Real as can be. Here in El Paso county. It’s a beautiful 81 degrees and sunny as can be.
You need to inform your friends that people like Harrell are Democrats they run as Republicans to get elected. Democrats still run SC they are just working undercover!
Whatever? You guys keep electing them.
Always get a kick out of Republicans like this clown.
Yeh everyone who is corrupt is a Democrat.
Republicans are squeaky clean,blah blah blah.
I mean it’s great!Anytime a Republican commits a crime?Well He was always a Democrat!
THANK GOD FOR NIKKI HALEY!
From a true conservative and former haley supporter!
Thank God, if she is defeated!
She is another corrupt Republican!
Send her packing!
No, baby, they were really Republicans all along and just had to wait for the right time to show their true stripes.
These GOPers here in SC don’t give a rip about the common man and never did.
The only reason they were ever Democrats was because it was NOT the Party of Lincoln. But, once the GOP started taking in the simple minded Libertarians and the Southern Strategy arrived on top of that, they could throw off their chains and be the GOPers they were all along. They’ve changed names, but not ideologies.
Or try and get elected like Tom Ervin.
Now, now, As The best president This Country has ever known (Ronald Reagan) would say, “There you go again”!
Obama and Ohaley are one in the same, A DISASTER!
Vote Haley Out, for “A GREAT DAY IN SC”!
OBAMA+OHALEY=OCRAP!!!!! WHAT A SCREWED UP MESS!!!
How ironic. In the Midwest we use the perverts and druggies in Colorado as an example as why law abiding citizens should never turn government over to Dems.
Small world.
Naw. you guys are coming here in droves to enjoy legal cannabis, like sensible adults. We appreciate the tax revenue. Thanks!
They better read Harrell his rights when he is arrested. We need to get copies of his MUGSHOTS after the fact.
100s of reporters will packed the courthouse.
Drudge Report Will Run The Story. Rush and Levin and Hannity to mention.
They just mentioned it on Bold and Beautiful. Dollar Bill told Jason to get the jet ready. They are on their way to Columbia.
Fool.
Head FBI Agent for South Carolina will be facing some really tough media questions about why Harrell has not been arrested for federal crimes yet. Everybody knows Harrell and his cronies have broken federal criminal statutes (like wire fraud, IRS tax evasion, etc).
“Everybody knows” Difficult to pick a jury.
This is a major Historical South Carolina event.
Imagine that ….right on time………an October “show” and the preview is announced on a Friday……
BRAVO…BRAVO….BRAVO……
+100 points and a “Ravenel line”….
The only thing that would make this better would be if Jean Toal and Hugh Leatherman were standing beside him as a co-defendants.
Amen to that!
Don’t forget Peeler.
Don’t forget Larry Martin Rino, Pickens County. He said in today’s State Paper the people “Don’t need recall elections”!!! He must be smoking some Colorado stuff in his pipe! I always heard drugs make you stupid!
He will never see the inside of a cell, not even a club prison.
He will not lose his insurance license and will continue to rake in the dough.
He may get an ankle bracelet that many times do not even get strapped on.
He will be allowed to work, go the the doctors office and home.
Work for him will be conducting insurance inspections of boats, restaurants, golf courses, airplanes, homes (oh yes, any home that he has a policy on including over 4000 Charleston area residences which include many friends and family)
In other words, he’ll strut around like nothing ever happened and people will be patting him on the back the entire time.
Such is life in the good old Cackalacky.
I hope youre wrong … they throw this crook under the jail.
Which jail is Brett Parker in?
Remember he has Jean Toal in his pocket!
What we all want to know is if STATE FARM will pull all agencies tied to EVERY politician across our state and pull all advertising like the advertisers did with the RAY RICE fiasco…!?!?!
Will State Farm hold the MAYOR of Mt. Pleasant accountable for not speaking out and pull his agency..? Or at least suspend his ROYALTIES …!?
We wonder how many GAS Stations across our state are insured by STATE FARM that is supporting BLOOD FOR OIL…!?!
God, we sure do hope Diane Knich goes nuts in her editor’s office for taking advertising from a Harrell State Farm Agency…!!!
Bobby Harrell – State Farm Insurance Agent
Directions
1 Google review
Auto Insurance Agency
Address: 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd #124, Charleston, SC 29407
Phone:(843) 766-5533
Hours: Open today · 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
God…………….may you strike Graham and Scott and CLYBURN ……at the polls in November……!!!!
WE are FED…UP….!!
Dear readers of Fitsnews………
We should form a class action lawsuit via Fitsnews for every newspaper that takes advertising from State Farm across our state who have agncies in districts where every MAYOR does not disavow this man….!!!
We need to send a bold signal to Lindsey Graham and the NSA of what we can do….!!!
Think about that trial with Mr. Folks on the stand…!!!
We can make him a hero….
It’s a great day in South Carolina.
The Feds will be at the courthouse to serve arrest warrants on Bobby – and some of this cronies.
Not a chance. We have a quirky statute that prevents folks being arrested on the way to a courthouse for a legitimate hearing or on the way home…. now when he gets into his driveway….
Arraignment
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea. Acceptable pleas vary among jurisdictions, but they generally include “guilty”, “not guilty”, and the peremptory pleas (or pleas in bar) setting out reasons why a trial cannot proceed. Pleas of “nolo contendere” (no contest) and the “Alford plea” are allowed in some circumstances.
“Ultimately, it was ruled that Wilson’s investigation could proceed – although by that point he had already handed over the case to Pascoe.”
Ehh? Are you saying he turned it over to Pascoe before the Supreme Court rulings?
Confused.
Dates would help put this in perspective.
Don’t worry, Bobby. It is still in my jurisdiction. State Court. I still have your back. We’ll talk about what judge we will select for you next week. Bill Nettles has not called and said anything about the Feds acting up. Have a great weekend.
How’s tomato face doing tonight? Happy, happy? Sad, sad? Worried, worried? Good.
Next Up – “Take Down Jeal Toal.” the alcoholic.
Hundreds to show up at courthouse tomorrow. May see many protest signs.
Rumors starting to fly that Harrell’s son is under federal investigation.
Harrell’s attorney – “Good morning your honor”
Judge – “Good Morning”
Harrell’s attorney – “May we have a chat in your chambers?”
Judge – nervously – “OK”
IN CHAMBERS
Judge – “What’s this about?”
Harrell’s attorney – “We have the pictures of you and the Governr doing the nasty on the Horseshoe at 2 a.m. back in 2009, and we know who you’re sister is sleeping with down in Hilton Head.”
BACK IN COURTROOM –
“Bond is set at $3.75 – dismissed.”
Leon for Speaker! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leon-Stavrinakis-for-Speaker-of-the-House/713581685390566?fref=nf