WHO’S NEXT?
Former S.C. State board of trustees chairman Jonathan Pinson was found guilty on twenty-nine of forty-five charges filed against him by federal prosecutors.
Pinson – indicted last year for his role in a bribery scam – has now been convicted of using his position of public trust to benefit himself financially and politically. The only question left? Does he squeal on the powerful politicians reportedly linked to his various dirty dealings.
“I’ll be more powerful than most politicians … I’ll buy the next Congressional seat,” Pinson said on one of the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) wiretaps released during his recent trial.
Oops …
Wiretaps also revealed Pinson discussing his acceptance of a $110,000 Porsche sport utility vehicle in exchange for getting S.C. State to purchase an 80-acre, $3 million “Sportsman’s Retreat” in Orangeburg County, S.C.
The owner of that property – developer Richard Zahn – paid for a night of debauchery in Orlando, Florida in December 2010 for Pinson and Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin, who was reportedly the original target of the federal sting.
Benjamin and Pinson were key players in the Village at River’s Edge scandal – a botched housing project that received at least $8 million in federal “stimulus” funds as well as an undisclosed amount of cash from City of Columbia, S.C. taxpayers.
When he was running for mayor in 2010, Benjamin bragged to The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times that he had “left seven figures on the table” in selling his piece of the action to Pinson for $500,000.
That boondoggle – which went belly-up last year – is reportedly linked to another, more powerful politician.
As for S.C. State, the school recently received a $6 million bailout from South Carolina taxpayers – even though it continues to be mired in controversy surrounding its mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.
54 comments
Cue Mayor Benjamin’s comments on the trial…5-4-3-2-1-1-1-1-wtf, Mayor? Hello?!!
Benjamin likes to carry a lot of ones, huh?
“I’ll be more powerful than most politicians … I’ll buy the next Congressional seat,” Pinson said on one of the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) wiretaps released during his recent trial.”
How very Machiavellian/Palpatine of him. I suspect it will be more difficult to do that within a cell, but who knows.
Wiretaps eh? I’ll bet ya lots of people are nervous Nellie’s now….you hear that T-Bone?
What’s wrong with buying an election? I got Bobby Harrell to make all sorts of trades with legislators to keep my chief justice position.t I mean, Vinny didn’t take but one phone call to his Uncle Bob. I was surprised Tom Davis and Chip Campsen were so easy. Same thing as payoffs,but keeping it local and me owning Bill Nettles and all, we got away with it.
Stevie. I told you earlier, I will protect you.
Machiavellian. I got that from my classical education.
Palpatine? Must be Common Core.
Know their classical culture *and* their pop culture one must, young Padawan…
Yoda- 2014
And now it begins to really get interesting…
The State was already offering a “hung jury” as an out this morning and here we have a conviction on 2/3rds of the charges for Pinson – Lil’T-Bone Stevie BeenJammin’s sphincter must be tightening up real good.
I wish I had something like that to make Tango’s sphincter tighten up some. It’s so flaccid and loose, he has meat curtains around it.
Grapevine said one of the recorded called is Stevie B saying the Feds won’t touch him because he’s the first black mayor of Columbia and Jim Clyburn’s handpicked successor…
First rule of fight club…
Can’t make Steve Benjamin feel too good. Ethics commission to contact Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. Related Story: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/did-columbia-mayor-steve-benjamin.html.
Congratulations, someone finally commented on your blog. I mean, besides yourself.
I just thank you for noticing, even if you are WRONG.
Two page hits today, I see.
don’t let them get to you GT
Ain’t it amazing, her blog even makes that POS Palmetto Scoop look good.
Probably just another fake account set up by Ms. Emily.
Please don’t humor
himit by going there to check. GT is a &^$W@ *!##$&()@ and will always be a &^$W@ *!##$&()@.Hopefully the seat he bought ends up being next to Bubba in a federal prison.
Say “Hey” to Rod Blagojevich and Jesse Jackson Jr. for us.
And it took the jury this long to figure out that this sleazy bastard was guilty? That’s frightening.
He dint do nuffin
Wha’ ha’ happened was…
The next one they take down on this deal will be an Italian and not from around these parts.
Not the Italian tire manufacturer? The tires that guy makes, da go forward. Da go backwards. When da go flat, da go “wop, wop, wop, …”
You spelled dago wrong.
“Wassup WOP? How’d your day go?”
Who you callin wop?
Hannibal and his men were not Black but Semitic Phoenicians
T bone’s probably eying an international trip right about now. Wonder if they’d stop him at the airport?
House Speaker Bobby Harrell and his cronies have been oblivious for over 3 years … Wiretaps, emails, bugging devices, tracking devices? … yeah …. Wait till the federal indictments show up? Coming to a news source near you? Hey U Harrell spies …. Have a NICE DAY.
Yeah … this reminds me of the former Governor of Illinois talking …. He ended up in federal prison for a nice long vacation. And what about Tony Rezko?
James Clyburn is on the list.
Assuming you are correct…
“Da bitch set me up!”
Lordy lordy, please let him be the first of many.
I wonder why Pinson even went to trial facing 45 counts in a federal case. Usually, when federal prosecutors bring forth that many counts, they will bury the defendant….heaping evidence in front of the jury. And the defense argument was pretty lame “he didnt benefit from it”. Really? Really? You go to trial with THAT defense? The attorneys got paid..and all is well if it ends well for the attorneys, I suppose. Should have taken a plea like Ed Givens. Not questioning the verdict…but just questioning the defense strategy.
Metts didn’t take a deal either, these guys up in the layer cake haven’t eaten shit for so long they think they never will have to again…(citation: Layer Cake movie), it’s pure stupidity based on almost a complete disconnect from reality.
I agree. Its appears that its not a “pride before fall” thing….its more “I can buy the congress seat” like disconnect from reality.
Who be gunna take mes to Florida to gets my white wymens now?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-KPOxqMazI
You low life common people just have no idea. I run the Democratic Party in South Carolina. Barack Obama runs it on the national level. I am protecting Stevie Benjamin and Barry, my friend, is protecting Jim Clyburn. This little situation is over. Now, run along, you little people. BTW, I am laid up drunk at my 5 million dollar beach house paid for by my daddy and I am laughing my old ass off at you silly plebians. Have a nice day. Molly, I love you.
Yeh and if it weren’t for the Republicans in the Legislature,I wouldn’t have been reelected,
Nothing to see here. Benjamin did nothing illegal. Easy to explain away: Do you buy that?
Great piece (no pun) . Read more: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/
“Using his position of public to benefit himself financially.” Pinson’s a piker compared to one trustee of Spartanburg Regional. Terry Cash sold his nursing home to the system after chairing the board for an overpriced $3.8M. Other board members benefited as well. That’s the board to be on if you want to turn your position into cash.
I work there. This place is nuts. One VP commited multiple sexual assaults. The board rides around the country to pheasant hunts, football games, golf tournaments, in a jet bought from a board member. No one cares about the workers or the patients anymore. We’re all waiting for the public to find out.
If I were a reporter, I would camp out by Mayor Benjamin and follow Pinson until he goes to prison. I bet there are deals being cut still to keep this guy quiet. Would be nice to interview the Mayor and ask him “How do you feel about the decision against Pinson?” This is just more evidence of why SC State should be shut down. It is not serving the public or the students well. I would never consider hiring one.
The media are more than ready to accept Benjamin at his word, he did nothing illegal, and let him ride off into the sunset. He’s likely the most-powerful democrat in the state. He gets a pass on everything…
He’s untouchable: Read more: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/
Dass cause day don’t hold us folk sponsabull fo nuthin.
I have met and worked briefly with several SCSU faculty and students and I would happily hire any one of these. They were in science and engineering.
The queens boys are finally getting some push back . Pinson first, your major Benjamin who has “done nothing illegal ” but given you a sample of his true character.
No you know whythe baseball deal had to be rushed….it wouldn’t pass after this trial. He still pulled wool over your eyes on that one!
You guys need to dig about the third boy from queens….daddy had a Greek diner and We used to all him ” panties” up here…
Even if Jim Clyburn pocketed all of the missing $52 million at SC State U, does any body really think Obama and Pelosi will let anything happen to Clyburn? I’ve got his back in the state courts. Hahahaha
Good column: Is all the suspicion over w/ Benjamin: Remember he’s a democrat. Yall usually skate, no matter how guilty. Benjamin swears he done nothing illegal:
2nd story: Read all about it: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/
juries, man…. many times are jam-packed with idiots. This time the idiots were outnumbered.