POWERFUL SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE RESIGNS HIS OFFICE, SIGNS “COOPERATION AGREEMENT”
By FITSNEWS || Powerful S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell pleaded guilty in open court to six of nine charges related to last month’s public corruption indictment against him – confirming our earlier reporting on the disposition of the influential Lowcountry leader’s case.
As a condition of the plea, Harrell received a one year suspended sentence and three years probation. He is prohibited from holding or seeking office during that three-year period – although sources close to Harrell acknowledged his political career is likely over.
“I have agreed to this today to end what has been a two year nightmare,” Harrell said in a statement. “This has been incredibly hard on my family and me, and it is time for it to end. We have a fundamental disagreement over the proper use of a campaign account to fly a private aircraft to conduct state and campaign business, but to continue to fight this would have taken at least another year, possibly two.”
Harrell resigned his seat in the S.C. House of Representatives – and thus his Speakership – following the plea.
In addition to the terms of his probation, Harrell is also required to reimburse the state’s general fund for $93,000 of the questionable accounting related to his campaign fund. He must also pay a $30,000 fine – money which will also accrue to the state’s general fund.
Most interesting as it relates to the ongoing federal-state investigation of corruption within the S.C. General Assembly, there is a “cooperation agreement” between Harrell and first circuit solicitor David Pascoe – who inherited the Harrell case from S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson earlier this year.
Lawmakers who spoke with FITS say the open acknowledgement of Harrell’s cooperation sent shock waves through the chamber he used to lead.
“He knows everything about everybody,” one lawmaker told FITS.
Harrell’s case has been one of the biggest political soap operas of the year – dominating headlines for months ever since Wilson referred the case 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.
“There is absolutely no way this case will get a fair hearing in the S.C. House of Representatives,” he told FITS months ago.
In July, the S.C. Supreme Court ruled that Wilson’s office had the authority to investigate Harrell – although it did refer the question of whether Wilson could remain on the case back to the lower court.
Harrell faced a wide range of allegations. In September 2012, he was busted improperly reimbursing himself from his campaign account for dubious flight-related expenses (Harrell is a pilot). How much? More than $325,000.
Harrell was also accused of applying improper pressure on the S.C. Pharmacy Board and the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (SCLLR) on behalf of his pharmaceutical business – using his official letterhead, no less. Additionally, Harrell’s political action committee (PAC) – the Palmetto Leadership Council – faced scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating and misreporting funds (including an effort to force taxpayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars on an unnecessary transportation project).
PACs – including Harrell’s (and possibly one affiliated with Haley) – are reportedly among the areas drawing special attention from the joint federal-state probe.
In addition to the PAC money, other reported focuses of the federal-state probe are, 1) misuse of campaign funds by members, 2) abusing public offices for personal gain and 3) vote-trading (or vote-selling) tied to the controversial February 2014 legislative election that saw Jean Toal win another term as chief justice of the state’s supreme court.
Other judicial elections may also be part of “the probe …”
We can only hope that the end result of this saga is a long-overdue housecleaning across multiple branches of South Carolina state government – all of which are rotten to the core. We also hope the drama results in the passage of draconian new ethics laws that eliminate self-interested behavior, provide for independent enforcement and impose harsh, punitive penalties (including guaranteed jail time) on violators.
Obviously that’s a far cry from the “ethics reform” championed by Haley – which would have actually moved our state backward on all of these critical fronts.
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102 comments
We can only hope his political career is over. It will be interesting to see if he “wins” in the ballots cast in the upcoming election, the ballots for which I believe it is too late to remove his name from. I would almost be willing to bet the idiots of that area will still generate enough votes for him, combined with the idiots who vote a “straight party” ticket, to send him in for another term.
His name will win by a landslide down in good ‘ole Chucktown, which will then require a special election to fill his position thus costing the Great Asylum of South Carolina to spend several million dollars.
That will be very interesting to watch unfold – a lot can happen in 11 days.
That’s very true, though 50% of the electorate give or take isn’t paying attention.
Mary Tinkler, the democrat on the ballot for District 114, will win the Nov. 4th election because Harrell is disqualified. There will be no special election.
Not if those morons can get a write in campaign together in short order. Ol’Strom won a campaign for Senate as a “write in” in less than two months.
See Sandford on that one.
That’s what worries me.
Exactly, Sanfraud actually stole state money, and all he did was pay it back when he was caught. Now he is still living on the backs of the taxpayer, as he has for two decades. I would not really mind him living on the backs of the taxpayer, if he were doing it in an orange suit.
SC is that stupid, boggles the mind sometimes.
If he wins the ballot, it’s further proof that democracy is a bad, bad thing.
It would definitely be one more bit of evidence that we are incapable of governing ourselves. For years, it was easy for me to laugh at the savages in the Middle East in places like Iran and Iraq, where they were incapable of governing themselves and it took the will of an iron-fisted dictator to keep the country, and the savages, under control.
Looking at some of the stuff we, the people, have allowed to happen in this country at all levels of government, I can no longer be so smug in my assessment of those in the Middle East.
This state cannot govern it’s self. Use whatever excuse you want. Corruption is the norm, let the feds run it.
No surprise on not going to prison. While that would have been great, I am also looking forward to how many other people in Columbia are taken down as a result of his snitching. Toal and Haley would be excellent places to start.
Oh God, wouldn’t it be wonderful!!!!!
Christmas in October
I wouldn’t start drooling yet. :-D
First to go down, first to talk, others will follow.
But what happens in the upcoming election? Anything? Democrat win by default? Special election?
You really don’t know nor understand politics in South Carolina. Nothing is going to happen. Nobody else will go down because of Harrell. Too many big players with lots of money. They will buy their protection.
If Harrell informs others this will make Operations Lost Trust look like childs play.
*on
Just fucking great. My black ass got five tears for stealing a gas station hot dog…
You should have told them you were in the Legislature. You would’ve gotten a slap on the wrist and a ride home.
Yep, his mistake was going blue collar crime instead of white.
Gotta say though, you got be at a pretty bad place to steal a gas station hot dog.
*Years
I agree, these people like Bobby need hard time, many more need to go, Hope the Feds come soon.
I doubt they can get to the Queen but maybe something else will come of it. Look at Operation Lost Trust!
And you’ll get another cap in the AZZ if you come back
I wish I could escape by crying!
You should have claimed you were Bakari Sellars and got off scott free! he did with his DUI
“cooperation agreement”
The biggest rat has just turned on his gang, 5 years from now when he’s past his relatively small payback/fines compared to his profit on graft, he’ll be sated on the bodies of the other corrupt rats that helped to keep him out of jail.
Gotta love cannibalism. If this one big one gets away, but takes down 20 others, it’s probably worth it.
Okay Will, time for the victory lap to commence – I’d like to see some doughnuts on the state house lawn as a reminder to the rest of the polecats that they’re being watched.
Victory lap? Is that sort of like the Mission Accomplished banner? So Harrell lost his seat, and had to pay the state a few thousand dollars. That’s just a reimbursement of money he wasn’t entitled to in the first place. Doesn’t seem like much of a victory to me, so far. I will reserve judgment, before popping the Champagne cork.
123 in no way constitutes a “few”
But it wasn’t his money in the first place. He is paying with other people’s money.
Actually, he’s not – he’s forbidden to use the campaign money for anything buy campaigns (political activities)
Oh, you mean like trips in his airplane, and food while he is traveling, and gas for his car, and staff who will devote their time solely to political matters. This will never come out of his pocket. He has already taken more than this. Look at his statement.
“i did nothing wrong. I just want to get it overwith.”
There’s no doubt he’s a cockroach but you can bet they’ll be watching every dime in his campaign accounts from here on out.
In your dreams. This is over.
Hey, hey, hey, can’t we have one day of “we got the cockroach joy” before you rain on our parade?
Forbidden? Pfft!
One polecat down – many more to go. Will deserves credit for this one just like he deserves derision for supporting T-Rav.
For the record, the “mission accomplished banner” is a tradition navy ships (and submarines who tied brooms to their periscopes) have had for years. It had nothing to do with the war at all but rather marked the end of their float – “mission accomplished”. Bush never said “mission accomplished” in his speech. Was it all political theater – absolutely.
Will he lose his insurance license?
no he plead to misdemeanors.
Will be interesting to see how fast the roaches scramble once Harrell starts snitching.
Nawwww … they’ll just slip him enveloped stuff with cash to stay quiet. Likely already have.
He has agreed to polygraph tests.
Which are not that hard to beat. I’ve done it.
Maybe so. But the idea that the feds are gonna let him get away with not delivering the goods, in return for money or whatever, is way off the rails. They are not little pissants like SLED. They have ways of fucking with people that probably should not be legal, but are. Try to minimize the import of this all you want. SC is due for another house-cleaning. And these crackers, none of ’em, are smart enough to outfox both the IRS and the FBI.
The feds happily let Ravenel get away with giving them nothing for ‘cooperating’. The sentencing judge was dumbfounded about it. It’s etched into my mind.
Ravenel kept tight lipped. Betcha he didn’t want to end up 6 feet down.
Different year, different Justice Department, different circumstances.
[Extremely dated reference alert]
Etched into your mind, eh? If I were you, I wouldn’t invite anyone up to see your etchings.
How do you beat a polygraph?
Polygraph test are so ancient, flawed, and inadmissible in court.
Doesn’t seem fair. He should’ve gotten more time than T-Rav.
Why? Is misusing campaign funds worse than being a drug dealer?
I predict nothing significant will come from the cooperation agreement. He won’t roll on anyone significant, if anyone at all. The cooperation agreement benefits both sides. It gives the prosecutor an excuse for letting him go with a slap on the wrist, and allows him to hold what knowledge he has over the heads of others, without fear of further prosecution if that information is divulged. Negotiations are going on as we speak.
No predictions needed. Nothing will come of it. Remember this day in South Carolina history. The lawlessness and corruption in SC state government is worst that Chicago’s.
As a condition of the plea, Harrell received a one year suspended sentence and three years probation.
Imagine that!
Please know that NONE of this would have happened if Kirkman Finlay had passed
his amnesty legislation. Finlay was Harrell’s best pal in the House because he was willing to change the law to make Harrell’s illegal activity legal.
Harrell STOLE from the taxpayers, lied and deceived the public, and Finlay wanted to help him get away with it. Then they held fundraisers for each other!
Ironic, because I got a call last from the Kirkman campaign asking if I would support the candidate who, “holds people accountable”. Exactly who is he holding accountable???? NOBODY!!
So in a nutshell, he embezzled $93,000 and got probation, has to repay what he stole and can’t run for public office for three years.
Thats right, and for anyone who thinks its more, just look at the statement by Harrell on the plea. He is saying, I did nothing wrong. I disagree with the prosecutor. I am just doing this to get it over with. What kind of prosecutor lets a criminal walk away from a charge saying, “I did nothing wrong, I was coerced into a confession.”
His public statement in the hours after the fact are solid grounds for his plea be revoked. He is a fucked up sack of shit.
Nice job, for once, by SLED, Solicitor’s office and the unknown (feds). Finally, we are at the beginning of the path to being assured that the system designed to keep corruption out of our government is working. But we again hope to be reminded how corruption at the head percolates deep down into every fabric of our society and vitiates our glorious way of life that (should be) is a shining example to the great benefits of a democracy. The feds and solicitor’s office must expose all of it and set a shining example for South Carolina, and begin a new day for our citizens. Public must see for themselves in its entirety to what levels corruption diverts the rule of law. It is astonishing that Harrell would deny all this and lead an entire state through a circus for these 2 years. The same is happening in District 108 with Stephen Goldfinch…can you believe it Goldfinch is charged with federal crime and he turns around and accuses Vida Miller of “crumbling foundation of personal ethics”. It is another circus that needs to end. Maybe Harrell has something on Goldfinch…maybe that CSOL-CofC thing.
Judge Casey Manning? Mr Corrupt Judge himself??
polygraph examinations???? ….. ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. ………. MY GOD what a SHAM all of this really is!!!! …… hahaahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
The Corrupt Grand Jury Judge —–
Circuit Judge Casey Manning sentenced Harrell to three years probation and a $30,000 fine. Harrell also has to pay back the state’s general fund about $94,000 for his misuse of campaign money. If Harrell does not abide by the terms of his plea agreement, which he worked out with 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, he could face four other charges.
Folks, you cannot pen something without mentioning Governor Haley? What has she got to do with his Harrell’s “lenient” white-collar criminal sentence? She must have destroyed your little egotistical manhood when she ignored you and left your small dick hanging? What will happen is Harrell may enable investigators to indict others with whatever and however dishonest they were in wheeling and dealing with the “people’s money” but nothing much will happen but another slap on the wrist for each of them and that’s a shame. In another life, honest people like me, who did similar shit would be sent to jail to do time with all the other poor and middle class people who serve time for less offenses just because they are poor/middle class people and not one of South Carolina’s “Good Ole Boys.” This state’s government and legal system is really really fucked up. And for all you low-life liberals on here, don’t give me this shit that it’s all about republicans/conservatives. Harrell is a fucking low-life RINO.
True. Governor Haley has been the best thing for this state. Our unemployment is very low, we’re now in the top ten states in areas of Education, roads, economic development and rising incomes.
Hey, Rocky, unemployment’s not good because about one third of the population opts to be on the Obama Liberal slave farm. Roads have been declining/fuck up for years and you must be absolutely “confused” about education it has been fucked up for years mainly because of the “culture” of about one third of the population. You should lay this rap on the legislature, it has the power. Ben “Pitchfork” Tillman saw to that and I l believe Clempsum University has a building named after him in his honor.
so Ben Tillman & Obama are to blame for all of SC’s ills. now there’s a new take.
Wow!! I had heard none of this on SC Political Blog – the nexus of political news in South Carolina – what’s up with that?
After 4 months, Harrell will never have to report in to his probation office every again. COUNT ON IT. Harrell will never have to submit to the Dept of Probation and Parole a urine sample for drug testing ….. Harrell will never pay much in the way of monthly probation fees ….. Former Lt Gov Ken Ard already has skipped out on being required to do that under his FIVE year probation sentence …… Who in the fuck do these jackasses think they are fooling?
They don’t think they are fooling anyone. They don’t think they have to. SC people are like a battered wife. No matter how many times you give them a black eye, they still stick with you. Harrell could probably have been accused of rape and murder and it would not matter.
I agree, he’ll even be elected again, LOL.
is he on the ballot? if so, he’ll be elected for certain.
Get your facts straight. BH will receive no special treatment. He has to go through the same metal detector and sit in the same waiting area as all the gang bangers and dope pushers. No special treatment. If he wants to skip out and not report, he’ll be arrested just like anyone else, but it will never come to that. BH is dumb, but I don’t think he is that self-destructive.
I know people who if they see Harrell out in public, they would walk up to him and punch him in that fat gut of his.
My permission is granted.
Dear Anita Zucker……..
Your a very savvy woman… so, when you read…
“there is a “cooperation agreement” between Harrell and first circuit solicitor David Pascoe – who inherited the Harrell case from S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson earlier this year. Lawmakers who spoke with FITS say the open acknowledgement of Harrell’s cooperation sent shock waves through the chamber he used to lead. “He knows everything about everybody,” one lawmaker told FITS….”
….what does a very wise woman REALIZE..?
LOL……Anita, your not a dumb woman…! When a mountain climber signs a “cooperation” agreement with a “Sherpa Lawyer”, what happens when a mountain climber is led down a path instead of UP a mountain..?
LOL……..Anita, how could a newspaper and a blog beused to show a sunrise to a blind audience..????
Anita……….go help ya….
Good riddance,
at least Harrell did own up to it and pled guilty as opposed to so many politicians who never admit their guilt, starting with Bill Clinton.
BS, look at his statement. He still denies he did anything wrong. Says he is just doing this to get it over with.
harrell admits nothing. he says he committed no crime and did nothing wrong. he is only ‘ending the case’ cause its too much trouble. strange that a judge would allow a defendant to say that while pleading guilty.
what happened to Goldfinch? i heard him on the radio he’s ready to plead, but the prosecutors are not pushing and not moving the case forward
The prosecutor in Texas says the case been delayed in Texas and that it will be transferred to Charleston for prosecution. South Strand News also quoted the prosecutor saying the case remains unresolved and active. By all accounts it is clear from several news reports that Goldfinch is currently charged with federal crime and the charges are currently active and remain unresolved. I have seen reports from his opponent that Goldfinch is lying about his charges and falsely claiming that the matter is over, when the prosecutors are saying its not over. How the case will move forward is all up to the prosecutor and the prosecutor says Goldfinch will be prosecuted in Charleston.
“In addition to the terms of his probation, Harrell is also required to reimburse the state’s general fund for $93,000 of the questionable accounting related to his campaign fund. He must also pay a $30,000 fine – money which will also accrue to the state’s general fund.”
$123 to the state general fund? It’s not a lot, but he finally got that tax relief through he’d been talking about, before leaving. Well done.
Please give the Feds the directions to 800 Richland Street!!!!
Questions:
Did Harrell lose the right to vote in the November elections?
Is he now going to be booked — have his fingerprints and mugshot taken — by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office? [It’s my understanding that the previously released “mugshot” actually was taken by SLED, as part of their investigative file.]
When are we going to see the reported 30,000 pages of documents that were stated to be on a thumb drive given to Harell’s attorney?
Has anybody filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to obtain those documents?
Quoting Bobby Harell,
“Get your affairs in order, because I’m about to get mine.”
It’s so nice he will be able to continue to provide for his family with lobbying fees paid under the table to a DBA company. I wish him the best of luck as he finds ways to fleece the residents of South Carolina for another 15 years.
Well….shit. Congratulations goes out to former US Prosecutor Bart Daniels, for the defense of his client, Bobby Harrell…and one getting heckuva plea deal. Wow!
He can run for office after his 36 month probation? Wow!
Ok, now for the heads we want Bobby to serve us on the silver platter.
1) Chief Justice Toal
2) Lt Gov Glenn McConnell.
CJ Toal’s reelection vote buying sham only benefitted her. Making CofC into a research university only benefitted Glenn McConnell. While Toal’s reelection may be fresh on the minds of those involved, allow me to introduce possible collusion and influence on Glenn’s and Bobby’s part to have Glenn selected as the next President of the CofC.
Harrell used campaign money to pay his lawyers. Harrell will use campaign money to pay the fine. Got it?
This just in from the crookedest bastard in SC:
“It’s a sad day for our state when any elected official gets in a situation like this. … My position has been and still is you cannot legislate morals.”
— Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence
That man is an old sick in the head flea infested anal retentive weasel.
Leatherman has virtual control of this state. In 35 years of service I have never seen anything like it. The corruption in government is massive. What Harrell got caught doing was nothing.
I consider his butt,doable,if there’s an ass drought,but I was hoping for something like this.He needs to be deflowered…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmZdvVnMXCc
Is this justice you might ask? Nope. Do you really think even for a minute anyone else is going to be prosecuted by the SC State Attorney General Office or Circuit prosecutor in this matter? If you do, you are more gullible that a 10 year old kid. Some people are able to read between the line of this bullshit plea agreement. And they used Judge Casey Manning? (shakes head in disbelief).
We keep hearing about the House, how about the Senate? Also, just because the House Ethics did not pursue something against other elected officials, does that mean the feds can’t pursue it? What is the statute of limitations on misuse of office for personal gain?
How can a kingpin squeal?
Nothing will change in SC until the investigation goes to the Senate. Until it reaches Leatherman, SC will remain a corrupt place.
And Toal…..