Crossroads 2026SC PoliticsState House

Live Coverage: S.C. Senate Oversight Hearing on Attorney General’s Office

Routine review? Or something more?

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by JENN WOOD

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Back in the summer, we reported exclusively that the South Carolina Senate oversight committee would be conducting an impending review of the office of S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson. Subsequently, we reported that an oversight subcommittee led by Senate majority leader Shane Massey would hold a public hearing on some of the allegations leveled against Wilson’s office.

That subcommittee meets today (Wednesday, November 5, 2025) at 1:00 p.m. EST in Room 308 of the Gressette office building on the grounds of the S.C. State House.

As we noted at the time, Wilson’s emergence as one of the top contenders in the 2026 South Carolina governor’s race has drawn “additional attention” to this hearing. Also, some of his critics insist these proceedings will expose “serious malfeasance” on the part of the office. However, sources close to the Palmetto State’s top prosecutor insist it is a “routine” review of his agency.

Which will it be? We’re about to find out.

FITSNews is providing live coverage of the hearing…

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LIVE FEED

3:25 p.m. EST: The meeting has concluded with very few fireworks…

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3:20 p.m. EST:

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2:59 p.m. EST: Nancy Mace has left the building.

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2:51 p.m. EST:

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2:47 p.m. EST:

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2:35 p.m. EST:

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2:17 p.m. EST: The committee finding that there was “unreported/under-reported outside political employment which may be inconsistent with Office policies” was met with a decisive response by the attorney general. Wilson told the committee “No, there’s no one that works for me that does outside work in a campaign capacity. Now, I’ve had employees that worked for me on the outside with a campaign who came to the AGs office, and I’ve had employees who used to work for me who left.”

2:12 p.m. EST:

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2:07 p.m. EST: The committee is now discussing item 3 on their findings report.

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2:00 p.m. EST: The committee has moved to discussions of the report’s findings regarding supervision quality and office culture. According to the committee, “The quality of supervision, agency culture and employee morale are frequently cited as reasons for leaving the office.”

The committee continued, “Supervision is uneven. Staff perceive favoritism. Staff complaints lack consistent follow up from HR and senior leadership supervisors attribute issues to personal conflicts or generational expectations, which may not always be the case.”

Wilson responded, “We have created a salary review committee to try to make equity and how salaries are given out and transparency. We created an IT steering committee to give every employee of the Attorney General’s Office buy into what type of technology we’re going to implement and get for their use and their jobs. We created a best practices committee so that people can have buy into the rules and the policies that they want in our office, as well as impact the office culture. We created a leadership development program designed to not only train current leaders and managers that cultivate those qualities in future leaders and managers who aren’t even in leadership positions.”

1:57 p.m. EST: ?

1:45 p.m. EST: The attorney general is addressing exit interviews of employees leaving the AG’s office. According to the committee report, “Quality of supervision, agency culture, and employee morale are frequently cited as reasons for leaving the (AG’s) Office.”

Wilson responded, “Most of the people who leave our office are leaving because they’re retiring. They’re leaving because they’ve got a wonderful opportunity to go to the next chapter of their life, maybe in the private sector, maybe they have a family member moving. There’s just some personal issue. But it’s not because they’re not happy with the office.”

He continuted, “From time to time, we do have employees that leave who are malcontent and disgruntled. And they obviously, on the way out the door, they they give us poor marks.”

1:38 p.m. EST: The first part of this hearing is discussing staff turnover rate at the S.C. Attorney General’s Office. According to the report issued by the committee, turnover is “especially acute in PCR and ICAC.”

Wilson told the committee, the agency-wide turnover rate for 2025 is 12.7% and attorney turnover rate is 20.86%.

1:35 p.m. EST: Hmmmmm… interesting..

1:32 p.m. EST: Congresswoman Nancy Mace is observing the hearing from the gallery.

1:25 p.m. EST:

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1:16 p.m. EST: Some great shots from Andy Fancher:

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1:08 p.m. EST: FITSNews founding editor Will Folks is live at the Statehouse…

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12:50 p.m. EST: Congresswoman Nancy Mace has issued a statement regarding the ethics complaint filed against her.

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11:45 a.m. EST: Breaking news about one of Wilson’s key rivals in the upcoming governor race.

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11:41 a.m. EST: The agenda for this hearing is brief.

Attorney General

9:30 a.m. EST: To catch up with our prior coverage of this story, click here and here.

9:22 a.m. EST: Initial reports suggested former state senator and prominent Palmetto State attorney Dick Harpootlian – who has been retained in an unspecified capacity in connection with these events – would be in attendance at today’s hearing. Harpootlian confirmed to FITSNews this morning that he will not be at the hearing, however. He declined to comment further.

8:36 a.m. EST: Confirmed. Nancy Mace will be in attendance…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jenn Wood (Provided)

As a private investigator turned journalist, Jenn Wood brings a unique skill set to FITSNews as its research director. Known for her meticulous sourcing and victim-centered approach, she helps shape the newsroom’s most complex investigative stories while producing the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts. Jenn lives in South Carolina with her family, where her work continues to spotlight truth, accountability, and justice.

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