FEDS INTERVIEW MULTIPLE S.C. HOUSE MEMBERS
By FITSNews || At least three members of the S.C. House of Representatives have been interviewed by federal agents in connection with an ongoing probe investigating public corruption at the S.C. State House.
As many as a dozen additional members of the S.C. House are expected to be interviewed over the next two weeks as the investigation – first uncovered by FITS – heats up.
As we exclusively reported, the investigation centers on two primary areas – misuse of campaign funds and abusing one’s public office for personal gain.
Sources close to the scandal tell FITS a third focus of the investigation has emerged within the last few weeks – alleged vote-trading, possibly in connection with the February 2014 legislative election that saw Jean Toal win another term as chief justice of the state’s supreme court.
Once again, FITS was the first news outlet to report on alleged corruption related to that race – specifically efforts by embattled S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell to throw the election to Toal.
Harrell, incidentally, was arraigned on Monday morning in connection with a nine-count state indictment alleging misuse of campaign funds, misconduct in office and malfeasance.
In addition to the state charges Harrell – who suspended himself from office pending the outcome of his case – is rumored to be a top target of the federal probe. In fact U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles was present at Harrell’s arraignment in county court Monday morning.
Harrell was released on his own personal recognizance after posting an $18,000 bond.
Who else are the feds said to be eyeing?
It’s unclear, although we know S.C. ways and means chairman Brian White – a liberal “Republican” from Anderson, S.C. – had some campaign finance issues in the past which were glossed over in 2011 by the same legislative “ethics” panel that whitewashed Gov. Nikki Haley‘s public corruption case in 2012.
White’s ways and means panel – which writes the first draft of the state budget each year – is also said to be a primary focus of the investigation.
“There are folks already hedging that White is going down,” one of our sources said.
Several lawmakers affirmed that report, telling FITS a heated battle was already underway for the leadership of that powerful committee.
In addition to the controversial supreme court vote, lawmakers are also reportedly receiving questions from federal agents about their proximity to several “leadership PACs” – or political action committees affiliated with legislative leaders.
These PACs are notorious for being used by ranking members as a means of rewarding their subordinates with financial assistance in exchange for their loyalty (a.k.a. “buying votes”) – and punishing those who refuse to play ball.
109 comments
STATE HOUSE PROBE DEEPENS…and FITS SQUEALS with pleasure and delight…. (:
When your dogma and failure are rejected at the ballot box, criminalize your opposition…the Democrat way…
TBG’s karma ran over your dogma.
Sorry.
I think it was Harrell’s dogma (“I can do anything I want because I’m powerful”) that got run over by the karma – we hope…
Why is the WHOLE Statehouse being investigated if it’s Harrell? Do you believe in indicting everyone because you say one man has done something wrong?
Stalin would be real proud of your logic. Kill all those you hate because one – acted like a Democrat – and stepped out of line.
We must pray for deliverance!
Shut up – don’t say that word!
What word?
Deliverance, you fool!
Aaaaah! Now I remember (squeals like a pig)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy0TOd6ek_M
We can all hope they get these guys and then move on to Queen Jean and then the Godfather himself.
I pray she does fall. In my opinion, she is right in the midst of a lot of this out of control corruption that runs unchecked in the courts. South Carolina citizens should be electing their own judges – and the need screams for a voter recall law. They has got to be change from this system. And you do not change it and allow the same folks who sit in power to remain.
I would prefer a system where the governor appoints the judges and they are confirmed by the senate or by both houses. Look in PA where judges are elected by the people and they cave to big donors. Why would you trust the people of SC to elect good judges when you see the clowns currently running the system.
All the rest of the states in the US, the citizens elect their judges, except South Carolina. And those systems obviously work quite well.
Wrong.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/leadership/fact_sheet.authcheckdam.pdf
How can you be so wrong, yet say that so confidently? Seriously!
While the current system sucks–I agree–the proper response is not a knee-jerk reaction to install general elections.
No, electing judges offers far too many opportunities for corruption. Do I really need to give examples and explain?
How many states afford citizens to elect their own? How many do not? Please inform.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/leadership/fact_sheet.authcheckdam.pdf
Of note, from the above citation…”Seventy-six percent (76%) of voters, and 26 percent of state judges, believe that campaign contributions made to judges have at least some influence on their decisions. Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters—including nearly 90 percent of African-American voters—feel that “there are two systems of justice in the U.S.—one for the rich and powerful and one for everyone else. Nine in 10 voters, and 8 in 10 state judges, say they are quite concerned about special interest groups buying advertising to influence the outcomes of judicial elections.”
(Source: Justice at Stake Campaign, National Surveys of American Voters and State Judges,
http://judgepedia.org/Partisan_election_of_judges
You are also more than free to search the applicable constitutions and statutes for each state. That is rather laborious.
76% of 1000 people polled who just so happen to be members of the bar?
Pathetic.
Why don’t you just answer that question someone else posted? How many states are there whereas the citizens elect their judges and how many do not?
Yes you do. Give the world examples and explain. Come on. We know you can do it.
Look above. Crafty name. But the applicable state constitution and state statutes are public record.
You can access each state here…http://www.law.cornell.edu/states/listing
Your argument is weak. Post your facts, not a website link. Or are you tooooooooooooooooo lazy?
The weaker argument would be the one where stating that South Carolina is the only state that doesn’t elect its judges. That is extremely weak–with no facts.
To answer your question. The following states appoint judges exactly the same as South Carolina.
Highest Court (CT, DE, HI, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, VA)
Appellate Court (CT, HI, MD, MA, NJ, NY, VA)
Trial Court (CT, DE, HI, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, VT, VA)
South Carolina is only one of two states in which its legislative leaders control the makeup of a panel that nominates judicial candidates.
I won’t disagree with you. However, I’m not making any money when I research this law. While it is fun to look at, I simply began my retort because the initial claim was that South Carolina was the only state that didn’t elect its judges. That is completely and entirely unsupported and false.
…..and now I’m absolutely done with this thread. See you guys on another article. But I’m not looking at this one anymore.
Not making any money? Check with Bobby Harrell. Heard he still has hundreds of thousands left in his “pay off/vote buying account.”. If he has room in his plane for the trip to the Kentucky/USC game this coming Saturday, he might even let you ride along. Perhaps on this plane trip, you can be in charge of his “records”? Don’t forget about the Internal Revenue Service, ok?
With respect to SC Judges, some of which are bench warmers: In 15 states, judges run for election. Their political
affiliations are not listed on the ballot, and so voters, unless specifically informed, do not know a candidate’s political party. In 8 states, judges run for election as a member of a political
party.
Appointed: California, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia
Merit Selection: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming
Nonpartisans Election: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin
Partisan Election: Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia
In South Carolina and Virginia the legislature has exclusive control over the election of judges.
The little boy law student jumps out of the sandbox and runs away. awwwwwwwwww.
There is only one other state in the entire nation that appoints/elects judges the exact same way as South Carolina. And that state is, Virginia.
“And those systems obviously work quite well.”
LOL
“All the rest of the states in the US…”
That is not so. Some states elect, some don’t. We are NOT the only state where judges are appointed.
Really, when you look at who we elect mayor, city council, county council, coroner, sheriff, solicitor, governor, legislator, US House and Senate why do you think we would possibly show good judgment in electing judges??
And, I totally left out the know nothings we elect county auditor, treasurer and clerks of court.
ONLY one other state elects its judges like South Carolina. Get a clue! Google it like I did. Chapple is full of chit.
No Thank You!!! Can you imagine Haley appointing judges?
Not me, not EVER!
Who is the Godfather?
The Godfather of Pork. Hugh the man Leatherman
Has he started wearing Depends yet??????
If not and the Feds are serious, I feel sorry for the cleaning crew bc he will crap his pants.
When does Jonathan Pinson get sentenced? It was supposed to be 2 weeks like a month ago. He’ll get three years and do one and most of the money is still in PVC pipes buried in a Greenville county backyard.
The Feds are scheduling colonoscopy…part of the Cadillac healthcare plan written into our constitution by our founding fathers. The probe deepens eh? Let it deepen…the taxpayers are paying for this service…and they deserve nothing less than the truth.
This is shocking news! Politicians trade votes! This has never happened anywhere before in any legislative body
Vote-trading is usually not a crime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logrolling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote_trading
I would ask US Attorney Bill Nettles point blank, “why were you at Harrell’s bond hearing on state charges”? I would also ask Wilson, “Why are the more serious state charges not being brought against Harrell …. and what right does Harrell have to decide who prosecutes him and before what judge”? See State News Website.
US Attorney Bill Nettles is an A$$ hole and won’t give an answer.
Of course he will not. He was at that hearing for a reason; to let the rest of Harrell’s cronies see that the US Dept of Justice is going to be bringing charges against Harrell, and his cronies in Charleston land development. The I-526 Boondoggle will never break ground. This probe is so wide spread. Using campaign fund donations as kickbacks and pay offs in exchange for favors and the ,like has been a major part of what has criminally been going on. Its long overdue to clean it all up.
——
Wilson needs to get search warrants and raid Harrell’s homes and businesses and those in his circle. Harrell has been doctoring and fabricating more records to use in his defense. And he is having other help him do it. I put nothing past these psychopaths in sheep clothing. They will do anything to escape being charged and sent to prison. Their freedom is in serious jeopardy now. And they know it.
—–
I don’t want suspended sentences and probation for Harrell. He deserves to spend at the least a few years behind bars to send a message. Make an example out of him. Persecute his crooked ass. There are felonies Harrell can be charged with. Does Wilson and Pascoe have man balls, or not? What are they so afraid of? The alcoholic who sits on the SC Supreme Court? People in this state – tens of thousands of them everywhere are sick of the entire elites who think they are untouchables. I would not piss them off the tax payers and give these criminals a free pass and “get out of jail free” card.
Back away from the crack pipe. Nettles, et al have to have proof not innuendo from anonymous posters on a political web site.
You want to join Harrell?
Join Harrell where? Unless I haven’t been notified yet, I have no indictments. My comment is simply that ranting on a web site under a screen name as “Turn Up Public Pressure” isn’t “evidence”. Never said that events as depicted occurred or did not occur.
Why do you reply to a post not directed at you? Wait! hmmmm. I see now. Yes. Ok. Got it. You are all in the same, “Elroy”, “CNSYD”, ” Do Tell”, “Larry Bishop”, and “I Stepped In Dog Doo.”
But to clarify, the events did occur.
You are a bitter old fool. How many nics do you use to post?
Bitter about what?
Bitter about muslim Obama taking down the Democrat Party for a generation?
American people have already made the judgement that the Democrat Party can’t be trusted on issues of national security and the economy. Obama is a traitor and why the military and intelligence agencies are throwing him under the bus…. not a damn investigation in the whole fuckin world gonna change that.
And while you are blinded by rhetoric about obama and party politics, Harrell and his cronies are stealing your state from you right under your nose. It’s the moronic republican party sheep like you that keep voting these crooks in office.
Dems are evil and are trying to destroy the country.I would rather have a corrupt Republican in office(I have no knowledge that Harrell is corrupt-if he is I am sure he will be held accountable,Repubs always are, unlike Dems) than an honest Democrat-wait there are no honest and decent Dems anymore.
Democrat Party won’t support a political candidate unless they advocate for its radical agenda and will lie,cheat and steal from the taxpayers.
No one in the state of South Carolina should ever even think about using the word “traitor” to describe others.
“I would rather have a corrupt Republican in office…than an honest Democrat…”
There we have it folks, the typical S.C. voter.
*shakes head*… There is really no wonder this country has become the way it is. Obviously, the republican war on education has had an effect.
I need to go back and reread Sic Willie’s post above. Somehow I thought it was about SC, Harrell and other Republicans.
The American people made that judgement by electing him twice? It takes a lot of nerve to call democrats “traitors” considering what the republicans did to this nation between 2001 and 2008. If not for the democrats, you’d be in a soup line right now, buddy. You’re welcome.
I’m not bitter about being poor or gay, so GFY!
I can assure you that Nettles is not looking to the internet for his evidence. Also rest assured that the evidence is growing and fingers are being pointed all over the place.
Sure. And federal investigators, the NSA, Homeless Security, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance are not monitoring emails, twitter, fakebook, Skype, and the Girl Scouts cookie fund.
Two supreme court justices are moderate social drinkers at most. A third is a tea-totaller. The other two drink like an Irishman who wins the lottery on Saint Patrick’s Day, but they’re both good mothers.
And abuse of alcohol is a proven link to organic brain syndrome. Having alcohol in ones system while sitting on the bench makes for a bad mix. Judges should be tested often for alcohol and drugs.
Let’s be real. The only reason the Feds are down here munching on corrupt cockroaches is because they are trying to put out what is for now, a small brush fire.
The idiot pols in SC are doing what the majority of pols do at all levels of government EVERYWHERE, they are just a little more dumb than the average in that they are routinely caught in doing so….and that disrupts the sheeple’s normally calm demeanor as they are getting sheared.
Governments at all levels can’t have that going on…cause if the sheeple lose faith and grab their pitchforks it fucks everything up. So they got to nip it in the bud and find a better class of thief/pol to run SC. It’s the ole Domino theory, applied to “democracy”.
Did Nettles even say anything before the court – address the judge? Where are the transcripts of this hearing? Also, what was discuss in the judge’s chambers beforehand or during a phone conference???
Nettles just stood there, uttered not a single word to the court. Nadda. He put himself in a position whereas he has to give the tax payers a reason for being there. He can’t just say it was to render moral support to Wilson. Nobody will buy such bs.
What we sometimes see is not always what it really is. I would not get my hopes up about any federal charges. The roots run deep and branch into many areas inside a small state like South Carolina.
Nikki Haley should be the first idiot they go after!!!
That is where this is leading. With Hillary running the Dems want to eliminate any potential female running mates. Unfortunately, Harrell, Haley and the rest opened that door for them.
Harrell will get probation if convicted in state court and home-confinement if anything happens at the federal level. He can consider it “early retirement”.
Harrell will eventually end up with so many more charges against him, yes he will have to do probation after his release from prison.
Wishful thinking I’m afraid but hopefully you are correct.
Don’t worry, Bobby. I will bring you soap on a rope.
I’ll send him some Vaseline, impregnated with some Charleston beach sand and Icey Hot! Should prove to be a moving experience, not soon forgotten!
LOL. Nikki Haley is toxic. She has barely escaped justice in a state known for lax ethics regulations. She would never stand up to national scrutiny.
I find this funny. If anybody chooses Haley as a running mate they’ve already lost the election.
What a dumbass. I recall your comments in support of ECB on that liberal rag, Patch.
Keep supporting losers like ECB, Tinabu,Sheheen and Ervin-makes my job easier. ;-)
Do you recall this one? “FUCK YOU”
Ahh Sandy Moraless returns
Agree!
Then add the Trash Harvey and Bob Peeler. Their attempts to turn South Carolina into a cesspool with all of the out of State trash they are pushing for waste management is deplorable and should be criminal!
X 10 !!!
She likes deepening probes.
Harrell’s cockroaches are here, we see.
“FITS has spoken with at least six lawmakers who say they are willing to testify before a grand jury regarding the troubling lengths to which Harrell has gone in an effort to shut down any investigation of his multiple misdeeds.”
“We are beyond Watergate at this point,” one of the lawmakers told FITS. “He rigged votes. To try and clear his name, he rigged votes.”
Read more at https://www.fitsnews.com/2014/05/01/lawmakers-bobby-harrell-rigged-supreme-court-vote/#tcxlTHTEKh7jLQdY.99
Watergate? LMAO!!!!!!!!What a bunch of fools.Better call in super sleuth and master of bizzaro, conspiratorial fantasies, Burlesque Buz Martin so we can get to the bottom of this.
On any given day the Big Lebowski had the CIA,FBI,HLS,the PTA,the NCAA,SLED,IRS and every other government agency allegedly investigating the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and multiple public officials and politicians in regards to campaign donations.This went on for years with NOBODY being indicted and the allegations apparently proven to be false.
Ole Buz is a master at making sure the facts NEVER get in the way of a good story-just ask TSN and reporter David Wren. :-)
Go ahead Buz, help Fits out! Oh my!!!!Pass the popcorn.This ride will be better than Netflix.
So you are associated with the Harrell family. Making a note of it.
What is the deal with the allegation, that US Attorney Bill Nettles has a conflict of interest with SC Supreme Ct Chief Justice Jean Toal?
Can’t wait to see Harrell’s ugly mug shot taken at booking.
That PROFILE!
Most likely the FBI is asking questions they already know the answers to. Let’s hope they have already concluded an undercover sting known Operation Lost Trust II.
That’s how it works. They’ve likely been listening in and watching for way longer than the roaches think. Using a smartphone like a hot mic is common these days. At this point, the feds have two choices now; bring charges against Harrell and his cronies or in the face of the public look like you are bought and paid for.
HOWS THAT I-526 BOONDOOGLE NOW? HARRELL’S FRIENDS IN LAND DEVELOPMENT BEWARE. WATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU?
Converting $93,958.50 in campaign funds from 2009 through 2012 for his personal use for expenses of his privately owned airplane;
Reporting $96,381.46 in campaign expenditures for legislative travel during the same period “despite the fact that some of the travel expenditures were personal in nature,” and that some expenses were covered with payments from “other sources”;
Using $70,286.46 from his campaign account to pay the salary of an administrative assistant at his State Farm insurance business; and
Spending campaign money to “pay credit card debt and to pay for goods and services for his home, family and friends that were not for any purposes related to his campaign for or position in the South Carolina House of Representatives.”
The same count alleges that Harrell “concealed this unlawful payment scheme by various activities, including but not limited to”:
Changing and altering the entries in his pilot logbook;
Creating flight schedules to “justify payments from his campaign account, when in fact some of the listed flights did not occur or were personal and not related to any official or campaign purpose”;
Misinforming law enforcement officers about the “purposes and circumstances surrounding expenditures”; and
Misinforming the House Ethics Committee about “the reason he reimbursed his campaign account.”
Source: The Nerve
This doesn’t revolve around just nickels and dimes. This is a lot of money he stands accused of illegally using. And his donors are big SC business players. How much in the people’s money do these legislature control and appropriate? Who are the lobbyist and their clients? Where to the members of Charleston County Council come into all of this? The land developer companies? Charleston Mayor Joe Riley? His own campaign donors and special interest in land development? Harrell has sat in a high place and in control for a very long time. He has even been accused of bullying and threatening other lawmakers to get his way? Whatever the case maybe, seeing how slow the courts are in South Carolina, it will be at least 2 long years before Harrell’s obvious guilt is finally decided.
People keep talking about land development but continue to miss the fact that Mayor Benjamen and Bob Hughes are concocting the largest land scheme South Carolina has yet to see. Nothing gets done in the city of Greenville without Knox White and Bob Hughes getting the first option on. Public / Private partnerships and all that HOGWASH is just another way to streamline who shares in what.
“Using $70,286.46 from his campaign account to pay the salary of an administrative assistant at his State Farm insurance business…”
Do WHAAAA?
Holy smoke. I didn’t realize that / wasn’t paying attention.
This administrative assistant surely doesn’t want to perjure himself and go to jail, too. Soooo, he’s singing like a songbird.
Gives me goose-pimples and shivers just thinking about attending Harrell’s trial. I wonder if he’ll get a skin rash and hives like the time he had his press conference.
Doesn’t do well under pressure.
***…..meanwhile, over in the Corporate State Farm Insurance media conference room..**
Southeast Media VP of Strategy: ” Those calls we made months ago are finally getting the smoke level in the Carolina region at the right dispersion rate..”
Advertising Media buy Intern: ” We have poured more funds into the TV and Radio and web domain. I think a great mailer campaign two weeks prior to the November elections will do wonders. What percentage of funds do we want transferred to certain media outlets..?
SMVPS: “With this Harrell smoke and the network of Info Ops via our agency locations may not call for a mailer “crusade”…’
Ad Media Buy Intern: ” Well Graham does seem to have all the bases covered. ……those SC voters sure are clueless. ”
SMVPS: ” LOL, yep….. GEICO can run all the ads they want too; but our percentage of customers remain the same. Getting those SC citizens to be aware of anything is really amazing. No wonder they were the first stupid ones to fire a shot starting the civil war..”
Has the cockroach (I mean, Harrell), been booked, fingerprinted, and broken the mug shot camera lens yet?
You know things are bad in SC when the US Attorney farts around and farts around and the state AG actually does something first.
Thought provoking comment. It seems most all public corruption cases of state level politicians are handled exclusively in US District Court. Harrell for decades being a powerful state legislature, how can there not be a conflict of interest with any state judge presiding over the case against him? Did he not appoint one of his own close relatives to the Judicial Screening Commission? Harrell had built an empire of total control and intimidating influence over many things.
Google shopping search terms: roach traps
Please, just a few of them, eat cheese on NIMRATA!
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”
— H.P. Lovecraft,
Supernatural Horror in Literature
— Harrell must be scared to death. And White, and …
Vote-trading is not a crime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logrolling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote_trading
It should be.
When there is money used to buy ….. payoffs….kickbacks. What crimes have you committed? How is your friend Harrell?
It’s a great day in South Carolina!
There’s nothing more enjoyable than deepening a probe,esp when you and your best bud are doing it,together :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYWiUErA9Kw
A federal prosecution will be much easier than state prosecution. A federal jury will simply have to answer “yes” or “no” to the question, “Did Mr. Harrell use the US Postal Service (or FedEx, or the Internet) to send a document he knew was untrue?”
Mail fraud is the federal prosecutor’s “best friend.”
Stiff penalty for wire and mail fraud – up to 30 years. Harrell’s friends in Charleston must be under stress about now since US Attorney Nettles showed up at yesterday’s hearing. Following the evidence and seeing where it goes takes time. There is obviously federal violations involved here. So we can expect more charges are coming. If to say, the FBI does not charge down the road a bit from this juncture, it would send the wrong message. Nettles did not make an appearance for nothing. It would not look good if he did and no federal charges come about in what I perceive to be a major ring of lawless, wide spread, and out of control corruption. Harrell, a big player was snagged. But the charges are not big enough to get him to turn witness against his cronies – yet. We have to wait and see what happens in this game of cat and mouse.
I’ve been screaming about PUBLIC CORRUPTIONS since 2001 — but who listens to me.
See, http://lillycollette.blogspot.com
I’ve been screaming about PUBLIC CORRUPTIONS since 2001 and the ‘f’ing FBI haven’t even pretended to pull their head outta their ass. See, http://lillycollette.blogspot.com
You’re a diehard warrior, Lilly. Glad to know you are still out there fighting to expose the corruption.
‘Misconduct in office and malfeasance’ — this is SOP for SC. Why is no one looking into the CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE /d/b/a/ Charleston County Family Court?
See, http://lillycollette.blogspot.com