SC

Todd Kincannon Appears In Court …

FORMER SCGOP LEADER POSTS BAIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE || By FITSNEWS || Former South Carolina “Republican” party executive director Todd Kincannon appeared before a judge in Lexington County, S.C. this week after spending a night in jail on criminal domestic violence charges. Kincannon was released on a $5,000 bond, and…

FORMER SCGOP LEADER POSTS BAIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE

|| By FITSNEWS || Former South Carolina “Republican” party executive director Todd Kincannon appeared before a judge in Lexington County, S.C. this week after spending a night in jail on criminal domestic violence charges.

Kincannon was released on a $5,000 bond, and a judge ordered him not to contact his wife – Ashely Griffith.  The prominent South Carolina attorney and self-described “honey badger of American politics” appeared in the courtroom without a lawyer representing him, however sources tell FITS he has retained attorney Dylan Goff of the law firm of S.C. Rep. James Smith to represent him in this matter.

Multiple television cameras were present in the courtroom as Kincannon appeared before the judge.

The charge against Kincannon comes in the aftermath of a bizarre incident last month.  According to a police report, he grabbed his wife’s arm during a March 26 argument in their car, “squeezing it tightly, thus preventing her from exiting the vehicle.”

Griffith told police Kincannon threatened to kill her, himself and her family during the incident – threats he is accused of having made previously.

According to Kincannon, he “accidentally overdosed” on the prescription drug Benzonatate – which he says he took to deal with an upper respiratory infection.

Kincannon and Griffith have separated in the wake of the incident, however they issued a joint statement last week responding to all the media attention.  In that statement, the couple said they would not be “voluntarily participating in any further inquiries” related to the incident – nor “testifying in any court proceedings related to this matter.”

It’s not clear how that “unified front” will impact the prosecution’s efforts in this case.

In our coverage of Kincannon’s arrest, we noted it was “likely to reignite a contentious debate over CDV reform – which has already been dominating headlines (and dogging GOP leaders) in South Carolina.”

We were right …

“It will be interesting to see how current CDV laws work in this case,” one lawmaker told FITS prior to Kincannon appearing in court.  “It will help us to see how the current laws are inadequate in addressing CDV – and may give some push to passing stricter laws to protect the victim.”

Interesting …

Frankly, we think a far more compelling case study involves Brad Eckstrom – the son of S.C. comptroller general Richard Eckstrom.

According to police, Eckstrom punched, kicked and grabbed his former fiancee Blair Pettrey by the hair, dragging her across his mother’s home during an October 10 incident.  Eckstrom’s powerful father bailed his son out of jail – and prosecutors later decided to drop the charges against Eckstrom in exchange for his participation in a “pre-trial intervention” (PTI) program.

Of course Eckstrom hasn’t attained Kincannon’s level of national notoriety …

***

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82 comments

Victorious Secret April 7, 2015 at 11:33 am

Keep kicking the horse, Will. I’m sure you can get a little more blood out of this stone.

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Old-Timer April 7, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Come on, he’s only kicking the ass of the horse. And Todd’s earned it so richly.

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Just Because You Say It... April 7, 2015 at 11:34 am

Why do you keep calling him prominent? He’s not. He’s a nobody. He’s only mildly relevant because he’s a superdouche on twitter.

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The Colonel April 7, 2015 at 11:34 am

Famous South Carolina criminal quotes:
“…pebble in my shoe…”
“…my diabetes…”
And the newest:
“… it was the cough medicine…”

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Rocky April 7, 2015 at 11:50 am

She’s hired attorney Carmine Notyours, from the firm Hugh Pay & How.

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The Colonel April 7, 2015 at 12:01 pm

That ones going in the permanent collection along with the CPA firm of Dewy, Cheatum and Howe….

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Rocky April 7, 2015 at 12:21 pm

Car talk – no Saturday morning is complete with ’em.

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John April 7, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Why do you keep posting pictures of him and Ashley smiling together? Why haven’t you posted his mug shot? What’s your agenda here?

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Rocky April 7, 2015 at 12:22 pm

The happy couple selfie – jeesh!!!

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 4:27 pm

Mugshot on other sites. I like the mesh one. :)

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Jackie Chiles April 7, 2015 at 12:15 pm

“According to a police report, he grabbed his wife’s arm during a March 26 argument in their car, “squeezing it tightly, thus preventing her from exiting the vehicle.”

Squeezing an arm? How could this man be allowed to be out on the street with such reckless violence in his past???? I say we devote MOAR police, prosecutorial, and prison resources to be sure this man is thrown in jail for a long period of time to be sure he doesn’t commit the heinous act of arm squeezing again.

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Goobersmacker April 7, 2015 at 12:54 pm

It’s called battery and false imprisonment. Look it up, fake lawyer.

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Jackie Chiles April 7, 2015 at 2:37 pm

With intent to kill too. Probably could get him at least for battery of a high and aggravated nature because it caused a bruise.

Since you seem to be especially tuned to looking up the letter of the law, I recommend you look up slander. Expect to be served shortly with my libel lawsuit. I look forward to seeing my reputation fully restored using your money.

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Original Good Old Boy April 7, 2015 at 2:51 pm

Well, isn’t Jackie Chiles a fake lawyer?

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:13 pm

A slander lawsuit from a Seinfeld character. I expect Kramer will be suing you next.

Writenow April 7, 2015 at 4:25 pm

This admittedly, pro-Kincannon site, neglected to mention when Kincannon threatened his father with a gun. Oops.

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Jackie Chiles April 7, 2015 at 9:05 pm

Womp womp.

TroubleBaby April 7, 2015 at 1:28 pm

Perhaps he missed his calling as an ER nurse checking blood pressure.

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latenitelawyer April 7, 2015 at 1:50 pm

Threatening to kill somebody is a felony in SC.

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Jackie Chiles April 7, 2015 at 2:34 pm

I’ll let you spend $30k per year locking up everyone that threatened to kill someone without evidence of a specific intent to follow through other than an arm squeeze.

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:11 pm

By the way Jackie, you need to read this, the clear pattern of Todd’s abuse of others, that fit a clear MO:
Todd Kincannon also has history of alleged threats in his hometown
Posted by Paul Bowers on Tue, Apr 7, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Kincannon has also had a few run-ins with the law in his hometown of Simpsonville in recent years, although none have led to his arrest. Just before midnight on April 13, 2013, according to one incident report, an officer with the Simpsonville Police Department responded to a call from Kincannon’s father, who said he wished to report an incident but did not want to press charges. The father (whose name has been redacted from the report) said that he had been woken up at 11:55 p.m. by his dogs barking because Kincannon was banging on the front door. Kincannon reportedly said that he had spilled Coca-Cola on his hands and needed to wash them. When the father followed him into the kitchen, Kincannon allegedly pulled a out a revolver, pointed it at his father, and screamed, “Get back, motherfucker, or I’ll kill you.”
The father said that he tried to retreat, but his son pushed him against the front door twice and said, “Now I’m going to kill you,
motherfucker.” The father ran shoeless to another house and said that “he could see the red laser sight from Todd’s handgun bouncing around as he was running,” according to the report.
Speaking to police, Kincannon’s father said he and his wife had given Kincannon “large amounts of money in the recent past (including $35,000) to help Todd pay off student loans and to help him catch up on payments to the rental house” and that tension had arisen recently over inheritance issues after a family member passed away. An officer wrote at the time, “He advised that he’s seen the weapon plenty of times in the past, especially when Todd put his own gun to his head and threatened to kill himself.” Kincannon’s father also said there was “a lengthy history of Todd verbally and physically abusing he and his wife.”
A week later, on April 20, 2013, Kincannon’s father called police again to say that he feared Kincannon would show up at his house with a firearm. He said that Kincannon had prepared his grandfather’s will and that Kincannon “believes he should have all of it.” The report also stated that Kincannon’s father “said he had recordings of threats being made to him but he could not let us listen to them at this time.” The father called again later in the day to report that he had received threatening text messages from his son.

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:18 pm

He’s beaten his parents. He likely beat his own mother.

Albert Traego April 8, 2015 at 1:53 pm

Can you please provide a link to the above?

BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:17 pm

Maybe you missed that fact that his threats were recorded. Multiple times.

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:06 pm

Jackie, what is wrong with you? Why do you have an axe to grind about CDV? No pun intended. You are continuously downplaying the severity of this and ridiculing the idea that women need protection from abusers, who in this state, go on to slaughter them. When a woman is beaten to death, there is blood on the ceiling, the body looks like something run over by a steamroller, eyeballs burst, bones smashed, teeth found across the room, at crime scenes. Sometimes, the woman’s children witness the event. Men show up to workplaces, family members homes, anywhere they can hunt the women they once claimed to love down. The case cited recently about the City of Columbia’s judges refusing to use electronic monitoring on violent offenders out on bond, had as an example where it was used successfully a man who showed up at the hospital where his victim was beaten badly enough to be hospitalized for her injuries; he was there to kill her, in her hospital bed. Could you please explain your resistance to the idea that women pay taxes, and deserve protection from the courts and law enforcement just like any other citizen?

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Jackie Chiles April 7, 2015 at 9:05 pm

Because I don’t automatically assume everyone is guilty of trumped up charges based on what was said shortly after a fight between spouses. I also doubt you’d be screaming to lock up a woman forever to “protect citizens equally” if a woman slapped a man and, after a fight with an emotionally abusive husband, threatened to kill herself.

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Guest April 7, 2015 at 12:23 pm

Anybody want to wager he’s getting paid for this PR stunt to help push through the new CDV bill?

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Caboose April 7, 2015 at 12:29 pm

Ditcher – Quick & Hyde

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The Colonel April 7, 2015 at 12:38 pm

Let me guess, divorce attorneys?

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GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 12:35 pm

Any chance someone will advise women to not lay w/ dogs???

The government should NEVER be expected take over the personal responsibility we ALL have in creating – and managing- our relationships….

Of course you can’t tell the Liberal-Tains, FITS-type Republicans that…and the liberals are too stupid to understand it you did tell them…

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Robert April 7, 2015 at 1:16 pm

I don’t blame the government for everything. But I do blame them for you because SC does so little for mental health.

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GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 1:21 pm

You do realize that each time one of you posts, with NOTHING…it just shows how F*#king void of anything substantial you are…

IOW: You make yourself look like even MORE of a Dumb@$$ by articulating your ignorance…

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Robert April 7, 2015 at 1:44 pm

You NEVER cease to amaze and make us LAUGH.

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GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 2:42 pm

Idiots are prone to sitting around giggling at their belly-buttons…so I’m not surprised….

Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 2:12 pm

Being accepted into the PTI program, is admission of guilt not a pre-requirement?

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GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 2:39 pm

Please explain…

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Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 2:50 pm

I know in Maryland, in order to be accepted in to the ‘probation before judgement’ (which is our version of PTI) program – you are required to enter a guilty plea. The plea never goes on record assuming you follow the requirements of the program (similar to SC PTI, attend DV classes/community service/no trouble for a year, etc). I was under the assumption this was the same thing Brad had to do – admit guilt to the crime – in order to be accepted into the PTI program. (Thus putting him just as guilty as Will, etc).

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GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 3:01 pm

Thanks for that. Facts have a way of taking second-place to the FITS agenda of hate and attack.

If you can be attached to the GOP, true Christianity or love for your country…there is no level of understanding ever rendered by FITS. Just vitriol…

Be a Democrat, homosexual, Jesus-basher or immoral dissident…and you’re MORE equal as an American (or illegal) according to FITS…

Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 3:07 pm

Not sure what that had to do with my comment, but noted!

Rocky April 7, 2015 at 3:10 pm

I didn’t have anything to do with your comment. That’s the point.

GrandTango April 7, 2015 at 3:24 pm

From my understanding, you were alluding to the fact that FITS seems to be attacking Brad because Brad – in FITS’ assessment – got away w/ his offense, because of his political connections (to a man FITS hates)….

Yet Brad got the same deal FITS received in the similar charge made against FITS. If it’s a “sweetheart” good ol’ boy arrangement, as FITS seems to suggest…FITS is just as guilty of getting a sweetheart deal…???

Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 3:36 pm

I’m pretty sure most first time offenders of CDV in SC, from the little bit of research that I have done, are offered the same ‘sweetheart deal’ regardless of who daddy happens to be. Unfortunately – I’m sure the same thing will be offered to Kincannon.

BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Blair, if a guy goes out to a bar in five Points, gets into a fight with another guy, and is charged with assault, are they also eligible for PTI?

Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 5:39 pm

I’m not saying it’s fair or right… but it’s the unfortunate reality of circumstances in SC (and most states, MD and Utah are the same way when dealing with first time CDV offenders).

BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 6:34 pm

Blair, sorry if I sounded like I was questioning your position, I was truly asking if there is a difference in the legal consequences of assaulting a stranger or assaulting one’s spouse.

Blair Pettrey April 7, 2015 at 6:53 pm

It seems the state will protect the stranger victim more than they will the spouse. Either way unfortunately – it seems the “real” situations are often under looked/taken far too light hearted, while the imperious cases are given quite the opposite attention.

Ulterior Motive April 7, 2015 at 12:45 pm

Will, when are you going to own up to your own past of domestic violence? You go after Kincannon and Eckstrom but THEY haven’t been convicted in a court of law. YOU have. It’s as if you’re bitter and now you get your kicks from writing about other’s issues while forgetting your own.

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 1:10 pm

Why is no one reporting the identity of the judge who waived the “no contact” order?
This is just plain weird.
https://bonnierussell.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/todd-kincannon-belated-arrest-on-domestic-violence-charge-as-lexington-county-dropped-the-ball/

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Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Ohmigosh, I just read it has been updated:

“UPDATE: The Magistrate who indeed, waived the “No Contact” order was MagistrateArthur L. Myers and his term expires April 30, 2015. Am expecting a re-appointment because and again, South Caroline leads the nation in husband-wife murders, and Judge Arthur Myers ordered they continue marital counseling. That’s right. Kincannon’s threatened to kill Ashely on tape, and Judge Myers ordered continued counseling. Whew.”

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Photo Finish April 7, 2015 at 3:08 pm

The Magistrate is named Meyers? And in Lexington? That explains your outrage.

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Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm

you lost me there…

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Photo Finish April 8, 2015 at 3:00 pm

Magistrate probably related to Donny Meyers, 11th Circuit Solicitor. Meyers, Republican of Lexington, SC. Donny looking out for a fellow member of the bar in Lexington County, himself having been in handcuffs. Kindred spirit, so to speak, along with fellow Republican kind of favor via his relative, the Magistrate.

Pineapple Twist April 8, 2015 at 3:02 pm

I’m not from that area, so had no clue what you were talking about, I was focusing more on the the Magistrate recommending counseling?

Town Crier April 10, 2015 at 12:53 pm

No relation. Judge Myers is African-American. Former HP trooper, former Internal Affairs chief for HP, served on security detail for a former Gov.

Rocky April 7, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Are you kidding? Guy is arrested for domestic violence, and the Judge says – “hey, why don’t you all go to counseling” – why not just shoot her right there in court? Would be quicker. Notice, if you put a little salt and pepper mustache on the guy, he sort of looks like that cop up in Chicago a few years back that his wife “disappeared” and then recently he was sentenced for killing his second wife? Maybe dex couzins.

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Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 4:22 pm

Exactly what I thought “Guy is arrested for domestic violence, and the Judge says – “hey, why don’t you all go to counseling”

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 4:56 pm

Will he be frisked prior to entering the therapist’s office? This is a catastrophe in the making. It’s making me scared for her.

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Rocky April 7, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Actually, I just looked at main stream media – there is a no-contact order, except for if they are the counselor. She claims he’s helping her find a place to live and get back into college (assuming USC) – so looks like he’s paying her off. She’ll accept the apartment near 5-Points and the tuition for USC, and then it will stay calm, until she finds her some fresh young stud on Campus, and then when Todd “James” finds out, the sparks will be a flyin’, and he’ll go totally nuts, threatening the kid with a handgun, waving it around 5-Points like it’s a Wild West show, then claim it’s because he took too much viagra and asprin, and was concerned because he had an erection lasting over five hours. (She’ll say – Wow! Because in the last two years we lived together you never had one lasting five minutes). Then the Ricland County cops will take care of his ass.

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 4:26 pm

FYI….this site isn’t reporting the elder abuse of Todd’s parents.
But the blog is.

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 4:54 pm

Nooooo! Ashley, why!?!?! She needs to run as far away as possible, not accept any ‘help’ from this psycho, This is what narcissists do, insinuate with “I’m sorry, I’ll help you” and then you are right back at square one.

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TSIB April 7, 2015 at 3:11 pm

She says he waived a no-contact order but Fits says the judge ordered Kincannon not to contact Ms. K.

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 3:14 pm

My sources are the Courts, not a friend of Kincannon.

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Rocky April 7, 2015 at 3:19 pm

There is a no contact, except when they’re at “counseling” – so I guess there’s probably no contact.

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 3:21 pm

Not so. Contacted writer and court.
Myers ordered they continue marital counseling. No contact order dropped like a hot rock.

Related: Is there anyone who doesn’t understand why SC is the Murder Capital of the U.S.?

Related: FitsNews is Kincannon friendly. So…much in the way of facts will be missing from their pro-Kincannon narrative.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

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Ed April 7, 2015 at 3:03 pm

This was the best part….his honor? Laughable.

“My wife is perfectly capable of contacting police if need be if something happens, but I can assure the court on my honor that I would never do anything in any situation whatsoever that would cause a problem,” Kincannon said.

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Old-Timer April 7, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Yeah, who would imagine that such a lovely person might have self-control issues?

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Edit April 7, 2015 at 4:47 pm

“My wife is perfectly capable of contacting police if need be if something happens, but I can assure the court on my honor that I would never do anything in any situation whatsoever that would cause a problem, because I’ll leave no evidence.”

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Writenow April 7, 2015 at 4:24 pm

Don’t look for this site to cover the threats Todd Kincannon made to his parents.
Turns out Todd branches out to elder abuse, too. It’s all about money. And Todd’s guns.

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BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Whoa, good work Pineapple! This is disgusting. I can picture that description vividly in my mind, and it ain’t pretty. So this is a life-long pattern of guns, threats, and abuse of the people in his life. Doing that to his own parents, now his ‘wife.’ He will be left with no one, already is. This is a very dangerous situation. He is a time bomb, and has the characteristics of an annihilator.

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Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 5:04 pm

For a long time I saw his twitter posts. I thought they were in poor taste, a bit out there, but I thought he just had a sick sense of humor.

Then I noticed his mom got fired or resigned, in Greenville from some disability board, and there were rumors that he was harassing employees. Again, I thought – well, that’s just Todd being Todd.

I can also picture that vividly and it paints horrible picture of selfishness, greed and an outright dangerous narcissist.

Agree, “a time bomb, with all the characteristics of an annihilator.”

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Martha April 7, 2015 at 5:53 pm

these comments are clear written by the same person. Pineapple, Bridgette and write…please, stop the petty revenge or hate. Things are bad enough without 2nd graders getting involved.

Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 5:56 pm

You have GOT to be kidding me….LMAO.

BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 6:24 pm

I know right. I’ve been accused of being GT, and now PT–that’s a seriously delusional stretch, considering our writing styles of points of reference are so vastly different. Both of our disqus profiles are open to the public–nothing to hide. Please peruse them, and you will find my passion is foreign policy and mid-east affairs. This matter is in newspapers from Charleston to Columbia, and beyond. Martha, get a grip on yourself. That we both feel strongly about CDV, and this case in particular has captured the interest of many, hardly makes us petty or out for revenge. We have every right to comment and post our observations. You however, are defending this turd of a man. What is your agenda?

Pineapple Twist April 7, 2015 at 7:08 pm

I think Martha also thinks we are Writenow? My profile isn’t open, since we are the same person you should know that….Ha!

BrigidBernadette April 7, 2015 at 6:30 pm

Martha must assume we are both liberals out for revenge over his twitter career. That is stunningly off base. We may be the only two overtly female conservatives on here.

Aloha Steve April 7, 2015 at 11:53 pm

Holy shit.

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BaOb April 7, 2015 at 5:50 pm

Why can’t we all just get along?

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Alex April 7, 2015 at 11:14 pm

I know another SC domestic violence case study that people should keep in mind.

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picric_acid April 8, 2015 at 8:58 am

Time wounds all heels.

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Old-Timer April 8, 2015 at 11:05 am

It must be SO exciting for her parents. Probably just as exciting as the day she came home, and said, “Mom and Dad, I’m marrying a world-famous dipshit whose sole claim to fame is being an ass on Twitter.”

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