S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell has been caught red-handed committing a host of major ethics violations – habitually abusing his campaign account (and Palmetto State taxpayers) for personal gain.
Yet like S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who was also caught red-handed committing a host of major ethics violations – Harrell doesn’t seem to be in any real danger of ever being held accountable for his actions.
To wit: It’s been seven-and-a-half months since S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson forwarded a complaint regarding Harrell to the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). That’s right … SLED has had the Harrell case file since February, people. And nothing has happened …
The laundry list of (known) Harrell corruption is extensive. For starters he reimbursed himself more than $325,000 from his campaign account for dubious flight-related expenses (Harrell is a pilot). In fact he has effectively admitted his guilt by returning $23,000 of these reimbursements – although a proper accounting of his flight-related costs would require him to reimburse tens of thousands more.
Harrell also stands 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.
Oh, and his political action committee is also under 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.
Crazy, huh?
This website has already called on Harrell to step down – not only because of the allegations against him, but because of how he has chosen to respond to them. First he has lied and refused to release his records. He’s also assassinated the character of one of the reporters investigating him – strong-arming her newspaper into backing down by allegedly threatening to withhold an annual $12 million bribe given by the S.C. General Assembly to the newspaper industry.
That’s the behavior of a guilty man, if you ask us …
But despite all of this, SLED continues to sit on the Harrell probe … month after month after month …
Nikki Haley received a public whitewash of her offenses thanks to Harrell’s cronies in the S.C. House. Now Harrell’s corruption appears to be going gently into that goodnight … thanks to Haley’s “law enforcement” agency.
Hopefully we’re wrong. Hopefully SLED is diligently documenting Harrell’s offenses and making the case for an indictment.
But we’re not holding our breath … and nor should you.
This is South Carolina, people, where it’s always “a great day for corruption.”
14 comments
You forgot the part about the Lottery job for his wife’s (coughcough) friend who was the target of a murder-for-hire, allegedly. She had bills.
Is that the girlfriend his wife wants to marry?
FYI, I filed a written complaint with the US Dept. of Justice and the FBI for public corruption involving Alan Wilson and Bobby Harrell a few weeks ago concerning this. Don’t know if anything will happen.
Accountability? Where are we? Corruption and cronyism rule here. Next election: They’ll all be reelected. All the sheep say “baaa!”
Jean Toal has pulled all the chits she has at SLED – and she appears to have a lot – to delay any action at SLED against Harrell. She is behind in votes for her re-election in the House and she needs Harrell to work for her. Leatherman and McConnell have her with a slim lead in the Senate. Namby pambies James Smith and Vincent Sheheen just can’t do it for her. Toal has to make sure nothing is said about Harrell until after February, 2014. All legislators who vote for Toal need to be held accountible. Vinny, we are watching you.
Spot on, Edgar. When Jean gets what she wants, Bobby will be shown to the door.
And I thought Harrell was already out the door, knocking to get back in because the Big Bad Feds are nipping his heels.Don’t understate what that crowd has done.
Has anyone ever checked to see if the House also reimbursed him for the same trips he reimbursed himself for?
I am sorry. Where again was the evidence that he strong-armed the Post and Courier over the tax exemption? I have seen only your theory, but no proof. Please provide your proof.
Holding my breath.
AG wilson will never indict anyone that could harm his donor base or his political carrier.
Never in a million years
Can the people of South Carolina file suit and also petition for writ of mandamus to force Harrell to be charged and arrested? Everybody knows he is guilty of criminal offenses. The talk is all over the entire state now. Nobody trust the slime bag in the least.
Guess we are going to have to force arrest warrants for him and his supportive cronies. And I believe if it comes to that, it will happen. Then all of these corrupt pussy boys in government go down with him.
So now you are alleging that the AG and SLED are comiitting criminal wrogn doings in cover up other alleged wrong doings? Just asking? Hey….what about Horry County Mafia…Lexington County mafia….lots of alleged conspiracies not really going anywhere. maybe…..maybe……they are all in a league of corruption thats being engineered by the Policy Council and Aliens from Alpha Centauri? Just saying… I heard that. From a Source.
Question: How can you tell when SLED is investigating?
Answer: You can hear the tapping of their white canes.
What is the deal with the $12 million incentive to newspapers?