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Election Investigation, Prison Report, Rose Petal Update – Week In Review 1/18/2025

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South Carolina’s top election official is being investigated for “allegations of misconduct” by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), according to official confirmation provided to multiple media outlets – including FITSNews.

First reported by Palmetto State Watch, the allegations against election director Howard “Howie” Knapp were referred to SLED by the office of S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson on March 29, 2024 – nearly ten months ago – and stemmed from the findings of an unpublished report by the S.C. Office of Inspector General (SCOIG).

Sources close to the S.C. State Election Commission (SCVotes.gov) insist the allegations are limited to relatively small-dollar issues involving taxpayer-funded vehicles and gasoline cards, but others familiar with the probe say it runs much deeper than that. Our Andy Fancher joined me to discuss the very latest on the investigation into Knapp… and where it could be headed in the weeks to come.

In other news, research director Jenn Wood and I dove into an explosive report from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) exposing violent, inhumane and allegedly unconstitutional conditions at the Alvin S. Glenn detention center in Columbia, S.C.

As I noted on the show, the report reads like a screenplay of the jailhouse drama Oz

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Jenn and I also recapped the unexpected postponement of the ‘Rose Petal Murder’ trial in Greenville County, S.C. – the focus of last week’s episode of our show. The reason for the delay? Citizens en masse shirked their civic duty to serve as jurors. The trial of accused killer Zachary Hughes – the concert pianist accused of perpetrating this savagely ritualistic crime – will now be held no earlier than late February or early March, prosecutors say.

Finally, special projects director Dylan Nolan – the producer of this show – joined me in our closing segment to recap an incredibly busy political week in South Carolina. Dylan and I discussed the ongoing debate over tax relief in the Palmetto State – which has seen a lot of talk but precious little action from ruling “Republicans.”

Who is stepping up on this front? A Democrat. As we reported earlier this week, state representative Justin Bamberg dropped a bomb on the Palmetto political landscape when he proposed the complete elimination of the state income tax – mirroring a proposal advanced by conservative members of the S.C. Freedom Caucus.

As we tracked the tax debate, we broke a ton of other news from the S.C. State House… including several key hires by the “Republican” establishment, the latest on $1.8 billion in tax money which mysteriously went missing last year and a potential botched cabinet nomination coming down the pike for status quo governor Henry McMaster.

Once again, thanks to everyone who tuned in this week and please remember, your support drives everything we do at FITSNews. If you value independent, unapologetic coverage like this, please help us out by considering a subscription. As we continue seeking truth and holding those in power accountable for their actions, help us by subscribing today!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks on phone
Will Folks (Brett Flashnick)

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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