Former South Carolina Chamber Of Commerce Leader Arrested

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Two-and-a-half months after he was ousted as leader of the left-leaning S.C. Chamber of Commerce, crony capitalist economic developer Bob Morgan was arrested in Georgetown County, South Carolina and charged with second degree domestic violence.

According to an incident report obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), deputies responded to an address in Pawleys Island, S.C. shortly before 1:00 a.m. EDT on September 4, 2024 in referenced to a domestic dispute in progress.

Upon arrival, deputies with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) encountered Morgan and asked him what had transpired.

“The offender started to slur his words and stated nothing happened just a verbal argument,” the report (.pdf) noted.

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Upon entering the residence – a condominium located near Litchfield by the Sea – deputies observed a female victim with a visible injury to her face including “a black eye and blood vessels popped.”

“The victim stated to deputies she threw (Morgan’s) phone because she found out (he) was cheating on (her),” the report noted. “(Morgan) then walked into the bedroom and struck her in the face with a closed fist approximately three times.”

At this point, according to the victim’s version of events, she broke free but Morgan was able to “get back at (her) and she then was struck approximately two more times in the face leaving visible injury.” In addition to striking the victim, Morgan was accused of throwing her phone “away from her when she was trying to call 911.”

Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, she was transported to a local hospital by emergency medical services. According to the victim, her doctor informed her she “possibly could have some permanent loss of vision” as a result of the injuries she sustained.

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Morgan was formally charged on September 4, 2024, according to the Georgetown County public index. He was granted a $10,000 personal recognizance bond – meaning he did not have to put up any money to be released.

Morgan took over as president and chief executive officer of the scandal-scarred state chamber in April 2021 after the group’s previous leader, former state representative Ted Pitts, was ousted. Prior to his three-year stint in the Palmetto State, Morgan led the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce from 2005–2018 and the Gaston Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2005.

No reason was given by the chamber for Morgan’s ouster back in June. In fact, the group praised him in a statement emailed to its members.

“We are grateful for Bob’s time in South Carolina and his contributions to our state’s business community,” the chamber’s board chairman, Will Whitley noted at the time. “The Chamber and its members are better represented at the State House because of his three years here.”

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Per the S.C. Code of Laws § 16-25-20, second degree domestic violence occurs when one or more aggravating factors are present. Among those factors? Violence employed by means likely to cause “moderate bodily injury,” violation of a protective order, a repeat offense – or if a minor is present during the commission of a crime, the victim is pregnant, a robbery or kidnapping is taking place, the victim’s airflow is impeded or attempts are made to block the victim from reporting the offense or summoning medical attention.

Based on the incident report provided, it would appear Morgan’s alleged interference in the victim’s attempts to call 911 would qualify as one of the aggravating circumstances, if proven.

Morgan could face up to three years in prison and fines ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, if convicted.

As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Morgan is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system – or until such time as he may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges filed against him. His case will be tried by the office of S.C. fifteenth circuit solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

Count on this media outlet to provide our audience with any pertinent updates on his case…

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ITEM …

(GCSO)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks is the owner and founding editor of FITSNews. Prior to founding his own news outlet, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina, bass guitarist in an alternative rock band and bouncer at a Columbia, S.C. dive bar. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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