THE DAWN OF A SCANDAL …
By FITSNEWS || An internal investigation into a corrupt U.S. Attorney is reportedly what led the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the S.C. Attorney General’s office to uncover – and begin investigating – a veritable smorgasbord of public corruption at the S.C. State House.
Months ago a federal law enforcement source who fancies himself as a modern day “Deep Throat” (the name given to Watergate informant Mark Felt) approached FITS with the story of this internal USDOJ investigation – which reportedly began several years ago.
According to this “Deep Throat,” the feds stumbled into a web of alleged “pay-to-play” campaign contributions after they followed up on a specific allegation made against this government lawyer – who was based in the agency’s Charleston, S.C. office.
Specifically, these alleged contributions were made to influential lawmakers by a “powerful Charleston business interest” which had a vested interest in a pending court case.
“(It’s) an open and shut case of judicial corruption,” the source told us at the time. “They weren’t even clever about it.”
At that point, the seeds were planted for the larger corruption investigation – the existence of which this website exclusively reported on back in September.
FITS was advised against publishing anything at the time due to the fear our reporting might compromise an ongoing investigation. However recent revelations – most importantly the go-ahead from a well-placed source within Attorney General Alan Wilson‘s office – have resulted in our decision to share what we know about the origins of “the probe.”
According to our sources, the court case that prompted the internal investigation into this corrupt U.S. Attorney involved powerful and politically connected Lowcountry real estate interests – a “follow-the-money” trail that not only wasn’t followed, but was actively buried in an effort to protect these interests.
“(The case) ran into road blocks behind the court house doors that were so numerous that they got attention of local investigators who presented the case to the (U.S. Attorney) in Charleston,” one source explained. “When the USA informed the investigator that he had already met with the victims of the fraud on several occasions as well as reviewed the victims complaint and determined it a civil matter, the investigator went back to the victim to ask the victim why he didn’t tell him about the meeting with the USA.”
Well guess what …
“The victim told the investigator he had never met the USA nor ever given him anything,” our source said.
Wow … straight out of a Law and Order episode, right?
At this point, the internal investigation began – which according to our source uncovered “significant false statements” made by the attorney to both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and a USDOJ deputy director, Norman Wong.
But that’s not all it uncovered …
“Further investigation into the fraud case found conflict up and down the halls of justice in Charleston and Columbia,” the source added.
And that, we’re told, is what started the current investigation … which has already brought down (and secured the ongoing cooperation of) powerful S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell. The probe is also said to be closing in on other powerful state lawmakers.
And yes … a central thrust of that investigation involves judicial corruption (including specific cases already exposed by this website).
FITS is continuing to dig into the specifics of all this, naturally … so stay tuned for much, much more.
***
79 comments
In the words of Louis Head… Burn this bitch down.
Inciting violence and riots like Louis?
In this case, yes. A thousand times, yes.
What a sad POS you must be.
are you kidding me?
You better be talking about Queen Jean going down as well. I guess federal judges were involved as well?
They’ve been watching her for a few years now. Nice collection of phone conversation, emails, text, even actually in person conversations. Smart phones also make great “hot mics” unknowingly to the owner of the said.
I like the picture-a ‘bridge to nowhere’.
It’s actually I-526 going to Mt Pleasant, but whatever.
I know, I know..it ain’t Cayce, but we’re tryin’.
The photo was another … ummm .. “clue”?
Kudos
Nothing new here really. Just more proof that legislation and justice is for sale in SC. When one party controls everything it has absolute power and “absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Whether they admit it or not, Republicans are the party of big business. Big business pays to elect them and then pays them for legislation that benefits big business at the expense of SC citizens. Nothing will change in SC so long as Republicans control everything. Arresting a legislator is like killing a cockroach, ten more will be there to replace him or her.
Democrats are the party of marxist unions, perversion and hate. Unions pay to elect them and then pays them for legislation that benefits the union LEADERSHIP ONLY at the expense of the union MEMBERS.
Nothing will change in this country as long as an American hating, closet muslim occupies the people’s house and shreds the Constitution while promoting perverted lifestyles, open borders and racial division
Hey Jill, adults are talking over here. No room for parrots. Keep up, this is about state legislature not Obama.
There is no material union presence in SC. By the way, it was Nazis that called unions Marxist. Ronald Reagan was a member of a union. Get a brain that doesn’t just record and repeat Fake News and Glenn Beck.
Ronald Reagan was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, in fact he ultimately was the president of the SAG and engineered a strike in 1960 that dramatically altered the way actors were reimbursed for their efforts. Previously, actors got very little (if any) of the residual income from the movies they had appeared in.
However, to imply that he was “pro unions” in general is to stretch the truth to the point of breaking it – air traffic controllers anyone?
“By outlawing Solidarity, a free trade organization to which an overwhelming majority of Polish workers and farmers belong, they have made it clear that they never had any intention of restoring one of the most elemental human rights—the right to belong to a free trade union. ”
Ronald Reagan
I didn’t say he thought union members should be rounded up and shot…
And I wonder if you could come up with a reason why supporting “Lech Walesa and company” was a good idea that has absolutely nothing to do with supporting “the human rights of union membership” and everything to do with “sticking it to Ol’Gorbie”.
So you are saying Ronald Reagan was an opportunistic liar, who did not mean what he said? What else do you think he lied about?
Hardly – he continued to support the Solidarity movement and ultimately got Mr. Gorbachev to “…tear down this wall…” (if only through the mistake of an East German news announcer).
All politicians, in order to be successful, are opportunists. (“…you never let a serious crisis go to waste…” R..Emanual)
He didn’t remember.
So how in your mind how does calling the right to belong to free trade unions an “elemental human right” get translated “unions are bad but I don’t think we should imprison union members?”
delete the second “how.”
Join us here in the real world for a minute – Reagan supported “Solidarno??” because it was strategically useful to do so – not from some altruistic belief in “unions” as “the last best hope of man”
Reagan often cited the thuggish nature of some of the most powerful unions, as well as the extent of communist involvement in them, as being what ultimately turned him against them — and against leftist politics in general.
Buz has it right – Reagan was against the “all powerful union” and the political games they played, not against unions in general.
His main “union-busting” action that I remember was against the Air Traffic Controllers’ union. On the basis of the fact that they were far too essential to transportation and commerce in the USA to allow them to strike and practice selective bargaining, etc — as well as to allow them to protect the jobs of total incompetents. A defensible position.
I think most of who are viewed as anti-union are “anti-union” for the very reason you cite: many of them exist to protect incompetency. The UAW is the single biggest reason that American car companies struggle so much (number two is their idiotic corporate mentality)
The second reason I have trouble with them is the blatant political shenanigans they pull ostensibly “in protection of their members” but in reality to just garner more power.
Interesting. I can’t say I’ll an advocate for unions, but rather more in opposition to management structures that create an environment that allows unions to come in for worker protection. There is more than enough history past and present where corporate greed makes the threat of or actual formation of a union a appropriate counter response. Add far as corruption goes,There is not much worse than or current government. It is rampant. You may want to re-read animal farm. “All animals are equal, except pigs; pigs are more equal. ” BTW; Reagan open the flood gates on narcotics trafficking; shifted shorts to the street level dealer. .. So the tax payer took a beating funding the war on drugs, while the affluent and politicians got very rich. When you see a large content crashed from congress and the Pentagon, such might indicate there is an actual war on drugs. Well at least the subterfuge did simulate the economy.
I just finished reading a history of Nazi Germany. Hitler rode blue-collar anger on his way to power and initially supported unions and socialist policies. Then when he gained power, some of his early supporters like Ernst Rohm became angry that Hitler seemed to be siding with powerful business interests against the working class. Hitler responded with the Night of the Long Knives. Rohm and all the “socialist” Nazis were murdered along with other politicians who criticized Hitler. Then Hitler staged the Reichstag fire to discredit his biggest remaining enemies, the German Communist Party.
So in the end, Hitler was an extreme version of the typical demagogue politician. He rode populism on his way to power. After he got there, he sided with the powerful establishment against his former supporters.
Excellent synopsis of the “Rise of the Third Reich”. What book were you reading?
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer. Before that I read a novel based in Auschwitz that covered a lot of the same material but did it in a casual, fleeting way that made me feel stupid for not knowing the history. The novel was Zone of Interest by Martin Amis.
Congratulations on making it through all 1,100 or so pages. I’m looking at my copy on my bookshelf, I don’t think I’ve ever read it all the way through. Lots of highlights and sticky notes in it but I don’t think I’ve ever read cover to cover.
LOL, try Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It has 7 volumes but it’s by far the best history book I’ve ever read, a life-changing experience. Full disclaimer: I listened the audiobook version while running or driving. I’d recommend that way of tackling it.
I’ve had the abridged Kindle version for three years, was deployed for a year of it and still haven’t managed to finish a single volume of it. I’ll have to try the audio books for the weekly rides to visit high schools.
There is an old (1940s?) abridged edition of Gibbon’s that is an easy overview.
I read it years ago. Remember it as excellent. “Last Train from Berlin” by Howard K. Smith is worth reading too.
Not sure that contradicts anything I said; but, with the exception of the murder part wouldn’t that make Hitler a typical modern day Republican. Pretend to care about the common man, but ultimately side with powerful business interests against the middle class.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out
When radical Obama came for my health insurance
I remained silent
I feared the IRS
When muslim Obama came after my Christian faith and church
I remained silent
I feared the DOJ
When marxist Obama shredded the Constitution
I remained silent
I fear we have lost America
Is it possible to be a ‘muslim nazi’ with a marxist world-view?
No, but its possible to be a redneck racist with a Republican world view, who is too dumb to know he is nothing more than a trained parrot, repeating Fake News drivel..
Ah, don’t let the facts muddy a hearty rightist diatribe.
Mel Reynolds (D-IL) was convicted on 12 counts of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography.
,
Walter R. Tucker III (D-CA) was sentenced to 27 months in prison
,
Austin Murphy (D-PA) convicted of one count of voter fraud for filling out absentee ballots for members of a nursing home.
,
Buz Lukens (R-Ohio) convicted of bribery and conspiracy
,
Carl C. Perkins (D-Kentucky) pleaded guilty to a check kiting scheme involving several financial institutions (including the House Bank).[
What is your point? My point was that one party control leads to corruption. In SC the corruption favors big business because its the Republicans that control, and they are bought and paid for by big business.
When one takes in the totality of politics and crime, any party in control or even in non control can be corrupt. Any elected or non elected government official can engage in corruption and criminal conduct. I am not splitting hairs here nor mixing apples and oranges together. I am, however, pointing out that what party a politician is affiliated with really is not something to rationally consider. Corruption and paybacks/pay offs gone on everywhere – and at ever level. In South Carolina, the white collar criminals in politics and land development – unless policed often – always run afoul of the law. Even the SC State Ports Authority (an independent State Agency), the talk on the street – suspected of being engaged within wire fraud and bid rigging – showing favoritism with multi million dollar contracts always to certain contractors who are not necessarily the lowest bidders.
This was Carl “Chris” Perkins, not to be confused with his Daddy, Carl Dewey Perkins, eighteen-term Democrat.
Beat me to it.
If you really think corruption in this state is limited to just Republicans, you are severely delusional.
The boondoogle I-526 …. Beach Company Officials and others in land development to be charged.
If Jean Toal is not brought down, then there is nothing here. She inherited $$$$, so that is not her quest. It’s the POWER. The ability to have grown educated men bow to her when she enters a room. To have lawyers and judges come in through her back door on Wheat Street for a straight liquor drink and beg her for some favor.
Harrell needs to be singing louder.
Knowing the character of crooks like Harrell, he will not follow through fully on his plea agreement. Thus, do not be surprised when other charges are brought and he is sent away to prison. The man is shameless. He better wake up and spill it all or he will lose everything he owns. His houses will end up for sale or on auction blocks. All of his cars and boats, they will go as well. His son himself will have a major black eye for the rest of his life and so will anyone who works in his insurance office.
you mean the USC Men’s Basketball team will be getting a new color commentator?:
Robert Frederick Collins (D) Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Convicted of Bribery and sentence to 6 years and 10 months.
Samuel B. Kent (R) The Federal District Judge of Galveston, Texas was sentenced on May 11, 2009, to 33 months in prison for having lied about sexually harassing two female employees.
Thomas Porteous (D) The Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana was impeached, convicted and removed from office on December 8, 2010 on charges of bribery and lying to Congress.
Harrison A. Williams Senator (D-New Jersey) Convicted on 9 counts of bribery and conspiracy. Sentenced to 3 years in prison.
John Jenrette Representative (D-South Carolina) sentenced to two years in prison for bribery and conspiracy.
Richard Kelly (R-Florida) Accepted $25K and then claimed he was conducting his own investigation into corruption. Served 13 months.
Raymond Lederer (D-Pennsylvania) “I can give you me” he said after accepting $50K. Sentenced to 3 years.
Michael Myers (D-Pennsylvania) Accepted $50K saying, “…money talks and bullshit walks.” Sentenced to 3 years and was expelled from the House.
Frank Thompson (D-New Jersey) Sentenced to 3 years]
John M. Murphy (D-New York) Served 20 months of a 3-year sentence
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) was arrested on December 23, 2012 and later pleaded guilty to drinking and driving in a Virginia court. The court fined him 250 dollars. He was sentenced to 180 days in prison, but served no time. (2013)
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) pleaded guilty on February 20, 2013 to one count of wire and mail fraud in connection with his misuse of $750,000 of campaign funds. Jackson was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment. (2013)
Rick Renzi (R-AZ) on June 12, 2013 was found guilty of 17 of the 32 counts against him, including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion, racketeering, money laundering and making false statements to insurance regulators. (2013)
Trey Radel (R-FL) was convicted of misdemeanor possession of cocaine in November, 2013. As a first time offender, he was sentenced to one year probation and fined $250. Radel announced he would take a leave of absence, but did not resign. Later, under pressure from a number of Republican leaders, he announced through a spokesperson that he would do so. (2013)
grow up
The best time for Charleston politics was right after the real estate crash. Suddenly, a major group of local politicians started to act like they were listening to the people they represented. This brief flowering of democracy ended as soon as developers were back in the area looking to make money. I’ve attended city and county council meetings and watched politicians twist their tongues into knots telling lies and using idiotic talking points to justify unpopular decisions that were supported by developers.
To sum it up, I am not surprised that Charleston is full of corruption. And it will be a huge weight off my shoulders to see at least some of these people pay for their crimes.
Like a Federal Prosecutor once told me, “you have to make people obey the law.” And one way to do it, those who are detected not obeying – even those in high powerful places that deal with millions upon millions of public money … .. . Charleston must be taken down. And so must Columbia. Its time. Several land developers are snagged in this one
Does anyone remember Al Parish? He was a very prominent Charleston-area economist who would roll into council meetings (literally, the guy was a 400-pound P.O.S.) and spiel out these glowing reports about the benefits of whatever land development was under consideration.
Then he was busted for running a Ponzi scheme that took in over $50 million. Now he’s doing 24 years in the federal pen. That’s the kind of justice I’m looking for with the rest of these crooks.
I followed the Parrish case. He was a charming and charismatic psychopath (much like how Joe Riley is). I would think that as long as there are no super powerful entities in D.C. that give orders to stand down, I would expect dozens in the Charleston clique to be served by FBI and Federal Marshalls. I would also expect the I-526 extension project to be stopped due to all the indictments; and, that land development to come to a halt on John’s Island as a result.
The entire state of SC has been watching this case closely. Moreso since Harrell has fallen. Most everybody in the state seem to be anticipating hundreds of indictments and arrest warrants. I think that is going to happen. I also think we should see lawyers, judges, politicians, land developers, land investors, real estate agents, builders, etc, charged in this wide spread out of control pay to pay organized crime ring.
I don’t have much good to say about Bill Nettles’ work as USA, but his office has been all over some mortgage fraud cases – in the Grand Strand, particularly – that have involved amazing conspiratorial corruption ranging from the appraiser, banker, developer, real estate agents, to the buyers…real rackets.
So, what you say would connect to the kinds of things his office has shown past interest in.
Be still my heart! Heck I’d happily pay higher taxes to build more prison space.
I’m trying to think of a court case involving fraud and Charleston political developers. My guess would be Buddy Darby, CEO of the Beach Company (and formerly of Kiawah Resort Associates), and the allegations of fraud leveled against him by other family members.
The case fits into the time frame of the leaks.
Here’s an article about the case:
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120608/PC05/120609180
There is an interesting court case in charleston that started in 2011 and
settled in august 2014 , where one brother accused his brother of
putting 7 million dollars in a swiss bank account and selling real estate
without his knowledge.
5s^
Its an Organized Crime Ring
I can’t wait for Wil’s next installment. Keep it up Wil – this is getting good.
At the risk of seeming truly dense (which I am, sometimes):
Is this about Bart Daniel?
Reggie Lloyd was US Attorney a lot more recently that Bart Daniel. And Bill Nettles is an Obama appointee
But, since there is no time frame on this story, but is probably fairly recent, it could be a career employee in that office as opposed to the appointee in charge.
FITS is throwing ‘judicial’ around. Does it have anything to do with a judge as opposed to an attorney?
Well, lets see….is there a current Magistrate Judge that was an AUSA a few years ago, that also worked in the Charleston office?
Hard to say, and obviously he is playing it close to the vest at this point. Just saying enough to let us know he’s got something, but saving the “scoop” for when it’s crunch time. Makes sense to do it that way. And of course, Daniel having a practice in Charleston would not matter, as it could have been an attorney assigned to the office but not from there. Not THE US Attorney, but one of them in the office.
Would have been a great irony for the US A who brought down the Operation Lost Trust perps to have been dirty, and to have helped a bunch of new cockroaches get their fowl nest going. But that would be too South Carolina even for South Carolina.
Sic gives enough clues. But they will only set off the memories of those with knowledge of the past. All of this, of course, involves well thought out and calculated schemes to make money. And lots of it, illegally off the backs of tax payers by those who have control over the state piggy bank.
Rhett DeHart is the USA in Charleston that got caught in the lie and the case of fraud involved Darby and KRA but it was the original case before the family found out about darbys ways. Wando River v KRA Darby & Bennett Charleston County 2011 cp 100 4537
With due respect to Captain Renault from “Casablanca,” I’ll steal his line: “I’m shocked, shocked to find “pay-to-play” arrangements are going on the SC.
The Beach Company – Real Estate Development, Sales, Leasing …. “powerful Charleston business interest” … ” ……
“powerful and politically connected Lowcountry real estate interest” …. BIG MONEY IN LAND DEVELOPMENT … Kiawah Island Development … former Congressman Henry Brown …. Johns Island Development …. Beach is a major Pro I-526 company ….. Mayor Riley of Charleston – big advocate for the real estate business and land developers working, in part, on John’s Island ….. Chip Limehouse connected to Beach Company …. The Charleston County Council … former judge and Johns island land owner, Victor Rawl (voted for 526)….. Teddie Pryor …. Elliot Summey (involved in real estate investments – voted for 526) … ……… John’s Island is the next Mt. Pleasant …. Land developers and home builders are like locust …. they will go after anything at whatever cost – even breaking the law. State money has played major roll … Billions of dollars voted on for land developers that “paid to play” with YOUR money controlled by crooks, liars, and thieves.
oh happy day. i could die happy if king joe riley and a slew of his back room minions all ended up in jail for the crimes we all know they’ve been up to. i’d love to see them find rleys offshore account b/c theres no way that squeaky little egomanical prick has sat there making $98,000 a year while the beach company, siensenheimer, the limehouse gang, etc, etc. banked huge cash and he didnt have his thumb in the pie. booby harrell had better watch his back, i wouldnt put it past any of them to assist his ‘suicide’.
Wow. This makes a lot of sense. Brain dead jibberish. Way to go Fits.
“The probe is also said to be closing in on other powerful state lawmakers.”
Ahhhh . . . This will warm the cockles of my heart (whatever they are) on coming chill evenings. The Grinch is headed for some chimneys of the deserving one truly hopes.