LEGISLATION WOULD STRIP STATE’S TOP PROSECUTOR OF HIS POWER …
A bill pushed by S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell would strip the Palmetto State’s Attorney General of the right to prosecute statewide officials and other members of the executive branch for “acts of public corruption.”
County-level officials would also be subject to the provisions of the proposed law – a seismic shot across the bow of S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is currently investigating Harrell on public corruption charges.
Harrell does not appear as one of the bill’s numerous co-sponsors, but multiple lawmakers have confirmed to FITS that the scandal-scarred legislative leader is the originator of the proposal.
According to the bill, in response to alleged criminal violations of the state’s anti-corruption laws “a special prosecutor may be authorized by majority vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives.”
“If a special prosecutor is authorized, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon mutual agreement, together shall appoint a special prosecutor to investigate such allegation(s),” the legislation continues. “The special prosecutor is entitled to the full resources and utilization of the State Grand Jury as provided in this article and is deemed to stand in the place of the Attorney General when appointed pursuant to this section.”
Translation?
Harrell is effectively seeking to remove the Attorney General from power … appropriating unto himself (and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate) the authority to sit in judgement over other elected and appointed officials at the state and county level.
“He is cutting the (Attorney General)’s nuts off,” one lawmaker told FITS.
Ashley Landess of the S.C. Policy Council – the conservative think tank which initiated the public corruption complaint against Harrell – was livid.
“They are trying to take duly elected Attorney General out of prosecuting public corruption and let the Speaker (and) Senate President pick any prosecutor they want?” she asked, incredulously.
Yup … that about sums it up.
Not long after speaking with FITS, Landess’ organization released an analysis of the bill.
“At a time when the House Speaker is under investigation for public corruption by the Attorney General, a bill to take the Attorney General off public corruption cases and instead use a ’special prosecutor’ appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem and the House Speaker strongly suggests an attempt by House lawmakers to shield the Speaker from prosecution,” the analysis concluded. “If this is true, it is a reprehensible use of legislators’ power to make laws. They are, in effect, using the law to put themselves above it. Or perhaps the bill is intended more as a warning to the Attorney General not to press forward in prosecuting public corruption cases.”
Astoundingly, this legislation has drawn the support of eighty-five out of the 124 members of the S.C. General Assembly – which already polices its own members (and former members) under a corrupt “Fox Guards Henhouse” system of legislative ethics panels.
So now lawmakers are going to extend their corrupt notion of “accountability” to the executive branch as well? And to county-level governments? All to settle a petty political score?
Unreal …
Harrell – one of the most powerful politicians in the state – is currently being investigated by Wilson for a wide range of abuses.
In September 2012, he was busted improperly reimbursing himself from his campaign account for dubious flight-related expenses (Harrell is a pilot). How much? More than $325,000.
He 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. Additionally, Harrell’s political action committee is 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.
Harrell is guilty as sin: In fact he’s effectively admitted his guilt on the first count by returning $23,000 of his dubious reimbursements.
He’s also responded like a criminal – lying and refusing to release his records, assassinating the character of one of the reporters who investigated him and then strong-arming her newspaper into backing down (by allegedly threatening to withhold an annual bribe the paper receives from the S.C. General Assembly).
And all that was before he launched his “blood war” against Wilson …
UPDATE: Unbelievable. There’s another bill – H. 5073 – that would actually amend the Constitution of South Carolina to strip the Attorney General of his role as the state’s “chief prosecuting officer” and eliminate his supervisory authority over criminal prosecutions within the state.
Wow … we’ve never seen anything quite like this, people.
85 comments
Would be nice if Landess would condemn the AG for his ethics issues! She is such a hypocrite!!!!
Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. You were supposed to be more secretive about this bill we discussed. But be sure I am covered in this bill also.
Bobby Harrell is like a school bully on the playground. Plus, he thinks he’s better than everyone else. Hey Bobby – if you’ve got nothing to hide, why don’t you just let the state grand jury investigate you? If they exonerate you, you’ll come out smelling like a rose. All of this CRAP you’re pulling only makes you look desperate. Karma’s a bitch, Bobby, and she’s on her way to visit you… mark my words.
Exactly. Keen stable minds see right though his bullshit.
LoL. Sen Pro Tem Courson will stop this bill. The Midlands owns you Bobby! LOL You going down!
Thomas, John Courson will do exactly what Jean Toal tells him to do.
John Courson is the laziest, most useless man in SC. He will never do anything that makes a difference.
85 have signed on because almost all of them are guilty of the same thing. If they give the power to themselves and as long as they stay in the good graces of the Speaker, they can never be touched. Smart move on their part. One question, will the bill also say the Feds can not investigate them and claim State’s rights? If so, that would be a homerun for corruption and whoever bids the most will be the winner.
Oh look Landess is back. She must have forgotten to take her handful of Xanax this morning. Hurry get her more pills!
Say what you want, but this shit wouldn’t be happening without her. You ought to be thanking her for helping you keep some of your liberty.
Hello Ashley. You keep bragging! You are doing great work!
There are a lot more of us out here who appreciate that woman and that organization than you think there are. So keep being snarky, “Scrappy,” because we are fed up…and increasing in number.
Ya know what………..
Would it not be great to overlay the tax map from Charleston County where Harrell’s voters are at onto a Google EARTH layer and use a “network” to notify every business owner and resident in that district of certain ramifications..?
Heck, could you imagine the ethical VETERANS at the VFW on Johnnie Dodds using their pancake breakfast as a donor “flush”..?
What would the boomerang effect be to the VFW on FOLLY ROAD..?
What is even better is actually understanding what type of information the AG had during the BOEING 900 Million scam “discussions” without a VOTE..! Twitter analytics can be very telling…!
Lets just hope a Board seat becomes available at BOEING so Harrell can slip out through resignation to end this political whip that is gonna be re-coiled to sting RILEY, Summey, Lindsey, Scott, Beach Company, Fennell development, and the Inland Port tentacles….!!
Right now……..Bobby Harrell is everyone’s worst “risk”..!!
Ashley Landess does know how to use a RAIL MAP..!! We wonder if a certain Davis Heathen is gonna know how to entertain in a kilt during a golf match after the “Masters”..!?
Who gives a shit if Ashley Landess is mad? No one in Columbia cares what she thinks. She only shows up when the Quindom wants somebody attacked. Even if the person is guilty, her getting involved just annoys people. When she speaks… people DON’T listen!
For someone who people don’t listen to, she certainly has a lot of powerful people pissing in their pants. What a dumbass comment.
Nobody is pissing there pants. Loud mouth with no clout other than a bogus organization with an official sounding title. When she actually accomplishes something then she will matter.
Lol. Right. All of this is “just happening.” You people are hilarious. And losing.
The State House is rotten to the core. It’s well past due for another operation Lost Trust.
Do you feel the same about the IRS, NSA and The US Justice Dept.?
Yep, but I have no hope that the US Govt. issues can be solved. It’s to far gone. It would have to be totally gutted and start from scratch.
SC is headed in that direction at a rapid pace.
I find it hard to comprehend the uproar in the house because Harrell feels he is above the state grand jury hearing his case. He has made it plainly obvious that he is guilty as sin and will use his influence to do anything necessary to avoid a indictment.
I find it amusing that Ard lost his Lt. gov. Job because of football tickets and a dress. Harrell racks up hundreds of thousands of questionable expenditures and now Harrell would have us believe the whole system is broken.
They are all a bunch of self serving crooks, enriching themselves at the expense of the ignorant voters who continually elect and re-elect these fucking cockroaches.
We had a Civil War, recession after recession WWII and a Great Depression… We survived, even thrived, afterward…
Americans will do fine, once the Anti-Americans, media-control and pretenders are purged from Washington, and the rest of meaningful gov’t. .
We’re not that far greatness. One Great leader away…We just need good leadership more than ever right now…and I think it’s coming…
Americans have more Great people, than we have loafers and idiots…We just need to say “ENOUGH” and step forward.
YEP!!! YEP!!!
YEP!!!
This is like a bad movie. Too stupid to be true, but it is. Only in SC would corruption prevail to this degree. You can’t make this shit up.
Harrell can neuter grand jury…..Harrrell can spay Haley….Harrell can neuter AG Wilson….Harrell can this and more, daily. A tribal victory song for Harrell. The legend of the pervasive dark force continues.
Isn’t this Kirkman’s bill? A crop support welfare queen and now a hand-maiden for Bobby Harrell
So any bill in the house is Bobby Harrell’s bill? Please he is not a co-sponsor. Maybe you need a civics lesson anyone of the house can make a bill.
GAL, you may know civics but not politics.
Seems rather extreme to neuter him with a bill. Where are they going to find a duck with a bill sharp enough to do the job?
If you ask me Harrell is a quack.
I was not aware that the current SC Attorney General had any balls to begin with.
Back when I was being appointed defense counsel for Courts Martial, the first thing I had to say was “I am not an attorney….”
Nevertheless, one need not be a member of the Bar in good standing to parse the language of the bill: “…a special prosecutor may be authorized by majority vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives. If a special prosecutor is authorized,…”
“May” is not the same as “shall” and note that the bill says “if”.
AG Wilson’s nuts are safe until enough members of the House and Senate agree that a case is so notorious that they would rather appoint a special prosecutor than allow the AG to dig too deep.
Wilson deserves to to have his nuts cut off …if he has any.
The ONLY thing that pisses me off is that Wilson is guilty of the same thing he wants to crucify Harrell for! What a COWARD!!!!
This conduct by Harrell says it all …. Thats it, people. Harrell has gone over the edge. Harrell is going to prison and so are his cronies. They can kiss their pretentious corrupt and lawless god dam asses goodbye. And I mean GOODBYE. They will spend years behind federal bars. I promise you that! I can here that song playing now … “they are coming to take you away, ha ha, ho ho … to the funny farm.” Yeps, Harrell will eventually be assigned an inmate number. Gotta love it. The egotistical corrupt sack of narcissistic shit is finished. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The tables have turned my friend …Wilson is in the crosshairs now.
Read and weep.
I just drove by your home about one hour ago. Next time I will stop in to say “hello.”
Bless your naive little heart. Do you still believe in Santa too! OOOOOH let me guess–you think the Easter Bunny is real too! NOTHING will happen to Harrell! You are clueless–you have no idea how this works. If Bill Nettles was gonna do something, HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALREADY!!!! Ask yourself: what are the “Feds” waiting on to move? Ha! Harrell OWNS the Feds! This is SOUTH CAROLINA–not DC! Keep clinging to your hope–let me know how it works out for you! #teamDumDum
Bill Nettles…. Hahahahahahahaha. He’s finished. He’s gotten his children’s trust fund secured by Jean Toal when Toal saved his ex-father in law’s CSOL, so he can give a rat’s ass what happens to the little people now. It funny he still believes somebody is going to give him a Federal judgeship. He is scared shitless he may have to get a real job in two years.
Billie Bob Nettles is in the dark. We come for your stink ass soon, fucktard. Your system security is a pathetic joke.
It goes like this, its not what it seems in this 5th Estate diatribe; the dumb white chick is so close to spot on. It goes like this; it was created in Chucktown, ‘Harrell / Wilson / The Other One.’ It goes like this, the other one has not yet been presented and its not Toal and not law enforcement or judiciary, its a family affair. Fly the friendly skies or all that blood will never cover that mess…STOP, or I will and I’m already losing itt. STOP…and dismiss…every intrusion is to be met with a heart full of the good thing, love and understanding ARE the ultimate crimes.
You are making mistakes, STOP; you are the same, it has your minds cannot you see this?, leave it alone; go home and clean your minds, its bad stuff, it destroys all; how can you not see this???, friend.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has accepted about $75,000 in over-the-legal-limit contributions from at least 32 donors.
…since 2009 the Attorney General Alan Wilson has accepted at least 105 contributions worth about $88,000 that were not initially disclosed on quarterly campaign finance disclosure forms – about $20,000 more than he has previously acknowledged.
Alan Wilson has amended campaign finance reports SO MANY times that one critic called the number of changes “unprecedented” in modern South Carolina politics.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s infractions could carry fines up to 500 times the value of an individual contribution and jail time.
…AND INCLUDE JAIL TIME.
For a table of Alan Wilson’s recently disclosed contributions and over-the-limit contributors, go to postandcourier.com/wilson-co….
Ok Mr. Slick. We get it.
We’ve seen and heard enough. Federal warrants for Harrell’s arrest are being put on the table.
Dream on, Seen Enough. Bill Nettles is the gate keeper and Jean Toal has his balls in the jar on her desk with a dozen other “real men.”
This bill takes care of a conflict of interest. Current law
allows the Attorney General to prosecute cases of corruption. But, what if the
AG is facing public corruption charges??? (which it seems likely that AG Wilson
may be facing some here in the near future)
If that were to happen, the current law says that the AG
shall prosecute…himself? That doesn’t seem right, but that is what the law
says. This bill would allow a special
prosecutor to handle the case instead of the AG prosecuting himself.
Learn to read, not react Will…because none of us really
expect Ashley Landess to learn to read.
It’s the same thing with Jean Toal. She investigates herself with her own discipline agency that she controls and is managed by lower middle class little whores and male eunuchs who owe their entire government careers to her. Harrell controls the his little ethics committee run by wannabes so this thing is over.
Court watchers knew AG Wilson was no good when he let Reynolds Williams go. It was obvious he was for sale.
You do realize there is already a check on the system. The GA can impeach and convict him in the senate. They perform their own investigation in the House, Impeach, and then the house presents their side in the Senate and the Senate can convict and remove him from office. No need for the law if that is all the law does.
The timing of the whole affair is interesting.
When you are proven completely wrong about Alan, I want you to reappear, magically, and apologize to him and us.
You talk about apologies you worthless 400 pound sack of dog crap? Six months later I am still waiting for you to apologize for berating me after you confused me for another poster. Your motto must be “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Worthless, lying, fucked up hypocrite. Don’t get me started again, pussy mouth.
He really cut you deep didn’t he?
Not really. Like you or anyone else, I don’t like to be falsely accused. And I especially dislike those who are incapable to admitting that they are capable of error. That is a classic symptom of sociopathy.
I made a few mistakes and mischaracterizations here and have gone out of my way to apologize.
You must have seriously overpaid yourself.
WTF? That comment has nothing to do with what I posted.
OMG! I know who you are, now! Well, you’re still misguided and unorganized.
I’d apologize to you, even though you’re still in transference mode, and you don’t even remember your comments about the church you made – which I called you on. But now, you have lied, again, for you said you would drop the matter. You’re about as reliable as Obama and Graham.
You are a bitter man with no justice and no maturity on your side – just insane rants. Again, I implore you to get psychiatric accommodation. I know, you think you don’t need it, but your words belie your intentions.
If it will do any good (which I know it won’t) I apologize for the imagined insult.
Let me help you here with the “imagined insult.” Below is a link to that. Scroll down and you will find the accusations you made against me regarding comments regarding the Episcopal Church in SC which were made by some poster named Bill. I tried to tell you that I am not the least bit interested in this subject and would never comment on it.
https://www.fitsnews.com/2013/08/29/super-crazy-leftist-nonsense/
And, here is a link where I prove to you that some guy named “Bill” made the comments which you ascribed to me. There is a link within our back and forth that will take you to Bill’s comment.
https://www.fitsnews.com/2013/09/06/nikki-haley-admin-not-pro-gun/
Issue an unconditional apology with an admission that you made an error and we will never discuss this again.
Misguided? Disorganized?
Note that this is the second time in the last few months that I provided you with these links. In the face of insurmountable evidence, you still refuse to face reality…a sure sign of sociopathy… a non-treatable, biological deficiency affecting about 4% of the American population.
You have transferred, again. Not THAT article. But if it will make you feel better, I apologize.
“You have transferred, again.” I have no idea what that means. Even your apologies have a sense of vagueness and equivocation befitting the Oracles at Delphi.
(“Seek safety in your wooden walls” was one of their most famous advice gem to the leaders of Athens in the face of an advancing Spartan army. “The walls of our ships or the walls of our city?”)
If you just flat out and said something simple like: “Hey, dude, I made a mistake. Forgive me and let’s be buddies!”
Do that and we can, indeed, be buddies.
Sorry, I won’t lie. You screwed up, and then you tried to say it was about something completely different. Fine. My apology stands as is. No changes. You said you were letting the matter drop, now this. How can anyone believe you? Take it or leave it.
That is not an apology. I have no idea how I “screwed up.” As to me saying I was letting the matter drop, yes, I would have but, sorry, if you come back in here and demand apologies from others without holding yourself to that same standard then you, once again can go fuck yourself.
The fact of the matter is that you started this whole mess by accusing me of something that I proved (repeatedly) was a figment of your sociopathic imagination.
That is all…for now but rest assured that I will call you out again for your pathetic hypocrisy and misplaced sense of superiority.
I honestly think you have no idea how absolutely childish you look. You’re like a 6-yr-old schoolyard bully, a victim of your own transference. Again, I won’t lie. You screwed up, and then you tried to say it was about something completely different.
You did lie, and are now trying to redefine the English language to prove yourself correct. Still, my apology stands as is.
No changes. Take it or leave it.
Apology accepted. Now…go empty your diaper and wolf down a 12 pack of eclairs to celebrate your victory!
Wrong. The State Grand Jury code section(s) already account for this possibility. In the event of a conflict on the part of the AG, the case is referred to a Solicitor by the Circuit Judge presiding over the Grand Jury. Further, the proposed provision appears to be supplemental rather than substitutive. In other words, there is nothing in the proposed code section that removes any authority from the AG. I read it to authorize the Speaker and President Pro Tem to appoint a Special Prosecutor if the AG, for whatever reason, has declined to prosecute a case against the enumerated officials. Finally, as I don’t believe that the Speaker is “a constitutional officer,” this provision would not allow the Speaker and President Pro Tem to usurp the authority of the AG to prosecute either of them.
If this bill “neuters” the AG, someone needs to tell me where my analysis is faulty.
Get the paddy wagons ready, citizens of South Carolina. Basically speaking, we have 84 SC state legislatures outright admitting that they have been, and continue to be, engaged within and participating in criminal conduct. It is time to organize a major protest outside the statehouse. I am sure we can get at least 8000 to 10000 to march. Meanwhile, it is also time for Drudge Report, Mark Levin, Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh to be tipped off about this bizarre conduct by the SC Speaker of the House and his circle.
Harrell, the other members of the house who are taking sides with him, and his two lawyers – all just blew their own brains out with this show of insanity. If Harrell had been cleared by the grand jury and/or by a jury judging him in General Sessions, and then he made this move, it would be perceived so differently. However, to make this kind of move now?? It speaks volumes and send a very powerful admission of guilt and the depth of the lawlessness that is going on inside the statehouse. Federal officials from outside the state need to be compelled to open criminal investigations into the entire House of Representative. And it can be forces. You want to see the people of South Carolina turn against these corrupt lawless rogues? Its going to happen. It being organized. Harrell may see hundreds of people assembling outside his insurance office in Charleston. The rest of the state will read about it and hear about it on radio and tv. He has drawn his last straw. The People of South Carolina will declare war on this corruption. And the House will lose in the end. Members of the House, their lives will be destroyed by their own conduct. And nothing will stop that from happening. Never piss the masses off like these elected idiots are. All of them are delusional. Reality will slap them down, right behind bars at that.
No they wont.Nothing is going to happen to Bobby Harrell.No one even filed to oppose him in the primary which is tantamount to election in his overwhelmingly Republican district.He will easily defeat the sacrificial lamb Democrat.There will be no federal investigations.There is nothing to investigate.Technical violations of arcane Ethics laws do not arouse federal prosecutors.They want to see bribes, embezzling ,stuff like that ,as happened in Lost Trust years ago.This?No sex appeal.l.So Harrell messed up his books?Big deal.Indeed, Fits even concedes he gave the money that was allegedly”not reported” back.
Lots of the people here hate Harrell for various reasons.Thats understandable,but this whistling in the wind, imagining all these non existent investigations and aroused citizens picketing him and all is pure fantasyland.
THANK YOUUUUUUU!!!!!!! Why are some of these idiots so naive????
Tisk TIsk. Your pathologically lying is noted.
And your silly daydreaming is noted.People demonstrating in front of Harrell’s office,him losing to a Democrat in one of the safest Republican districts in the state ,oh and dont forget about this NON EXISTENT “federal” investigation!TheDUMBASS hyperbole here is a scream!
Guilty people, like Harrell, are often overly angry or emotional when confronted. Usually, admissions or guilt arise in the form of quick denial. Most guilty people are not shocked to be caught, but are embarrassed so they are quick to deny and get angry. Harrell lashing out like he is fits the traits of someone who is guilty; someone who is scratching and clawing in their attempts to avoid incarceration for their crimes. Lastly, it is noted that Harrells friends are watching this website and in some cases, posting comments. Said comments in his support have no effect whatsoever. They merely show, however, how desperate he and those who stand to fall with him, are.
You may put your textbook away and return from left field or Mars or where ever you came from, ….take a clue …read the article …it’s Wilson that is on the receiving end now ….I know the truth hurts sometimes …take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay honey child.
Please list the primary sponsor and those who have signed on. If my legislator supports this, I’ll work my ass off to get her removed from office.
good luck, pal
“Harrell Bill Would Neuter SC Attorney General”
Too late, Bobby! I think he has been that way since before he took office, based on his “performance” in regard to cleaning up the Lexington Crime Ring and the Richland/Columbia political machine and their numerous subsidiaries.
What would be ideal for the citizens of SC, is if these two corrupt sides would somehow destroy each-other and we could find some honest people to take their place.
Knock Knock Knock on Harrells front door. HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!
It would be fairly easy for anyone to walk right up to Harrell and punch him in the face.
This reminds me of Nixon’s midnight massacre. When a politician starts trying to change the prosecutorial rules in the middle of his own investigation, it’s as close to an admission of guilt as you’re going to get.
When will the mainstream,media pick up on this? The public hates this shit. It’s a criminal being able to change the law during his own trial so he can get off.
Time for Wilson to call the Feds, enough.
For what?
War has started. Citizens groups joining forces. Plans to acquire within a few months up to 100,000 signatures on petitiion from across the entire state, demanding Bobby Harrell’s resignation.
Oh yeh,thats going to happen!Hahaha!
The best part of Bobby ended up as a brown stain on his mother’s mattress.
Ah yes because South Carolina’s ethics laws are too stringent. Need to protect these elected officials from prosecution more.
It’s not like the AG does shit, anyway.