SPEAKER PAYS $80,000 TO ATTORNEYS FROM CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT
Embattled S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell (RINO-Charleston) paid two of his personal attorneys $80,000 out of his campaign account earlier this year, state campaign finance documents show.
Harrell paid Charleston, S.C. attorney Gedney Howe $43,000 for “legal fees” on April 24 of this year. The same day he paid Charleston, S.C. attorney Bart Daniel $37,000, also for “legal fees.”
The combined sum constitutes the vast majority of the $95,000 Harrell’s campaign spent during the most recent fundraising quarter – although we’re told it represents only fraction of what he is paying Howe and Daniel for their efforts to defend him against a flood of allegations.
Politicians are permitted to retain counsel at taxpayer expense – or at the expense of their campaign – for matters related to the discharge of their official duties. For example a governor who is sued by an uber-liberal educrat for refusing to accept federal “stimulus” funds (i.e. former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, who in 2009 was sued by current “Republican” superintendent of education nominee Molly Spearman) would be entitled to hire a lawyer at the taxpayer’s expense.
Harrell’s campaign finance issues are a central focus of the ongoing investigation by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson – which means it could conceivably be okay for him to pay for part of his defense out of that account. The only opinion issued by the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC) on the matter is inconclusive.
Having said that, we don’t think Harrell’s expenditures pass the smell test … and if there’s anybody who should be going above and beyond to avoid even a whiff of corruption at this stage of his political career, it’s Harrell.
61 comments
The guy just looks like a turd in a suit.
If it looks like a duck and Quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck….It’s obviously a TURD filled duck, in a Harrell suit!
Or, if it looks like a turd, smells like a turd and is slimey like a turd…It’s obviously Bobby Harrell!
So, is it true ? Nikki will let him go down, even though the deal is still good ?
It’s only gonna get worse for the shithead, now that FITS is riding him like a pony I’m sure there’s going to be another herpes flare up.
I think his lawyers are ripping him off so far.
I wonder if he charged his lawyers for flights between Charleston and Columbia.
” traitor” TOM ERVIN loans his campaign to elect Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid/ Dem Sheheeen $450,000 and $80,000 is a big deal?
Why not investigate “traitor” Tom Ervin’s “most recent fundraising quarter” and see where the money is coming from and IF that information can “avoid even a whiff of corruption” ?
Because he’s not Bobby Harrel, numbnut !
That’s funny !!! But it won’t keep Sandy on topic anymore than idiot GT can post a comment without mentioning Obama. One track minds but still fun to read. Who needs comics?
I’m sure Casey Manning got a chunk of that!
no facts. cowardly comment.
Name 1 Republican in SC that is not corrupt ?
LMAO!!!! Deo just stated ‘self- identified’ Republican TOM ERVIN, is CORRUPT!!!
Lawdy Lawdy , Gomer has gone mad!!!!!
Touchee”, I’m right by you ? All republicans in SC are corrupt ? I already knew the answer, jr .
lol! Private Pyle please tell us why you apparently believe TOM Ervin is corrupt? What do you know?
He is running as a republican, I thought you knew that ? Now I am wondering !
Sandi,
You truly are a pathetic, sick individual. You are as obsessed with Ervin as your boss (Haley) is obsessed and posessed with illegalities and lies, Wilbur Smith, Lexington Medical Center, Income Tax returns, Can’t remember her password, ‘My pass word is my High School”, cannpt remember how she flew to China with Sanford (wonder if she remembers where she slept, while there), “Everything that could be done to protect the info of S taxpayers, at DOR, was done” (oops, could have done much more). It never ends with you and Haley, does it?
Are you on staff, or one of her alleged stripper, lap dancers?
Tell ya what dude. I will be at the Beaver Bar in Murrels Inlet on Friday to hear a band I like.
Walk around the bar , ask for Sandi and I will be glad to address your concerns.
Or , you can hide behind your keyboard, in mommy’s basement, watching porn and miss all the fun!
I am buyin!!!!!!!
Nobody is going to drive out to some shitty bar miles away just to see your shilling ass. Don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re that important.
Damn. You stalking me again? Everybody likes a stalker/fan/living in an idiots head like I apparently live in yours.
I haven’t addressed you in days for one reason only. You are dumber than the ‘fly’ and I don’t like morons.
Other than that I got nothing against you.Every liar deserves a forum to be heard and you have apparenty found yours. Carry on!
You are as obsessed with Ervin
A job’s a job, right? Cha-ching!
Sandi agains contradicts herself, or itself..whatever!
You’ve been claiming Ervin to be a Democrat, which he is not.
Now you are admitting, he is infact a Republican and a GREAT one, at that! Head and shoulders above your boss Nikki the pathological liar Haley!
I have NO idea what Ervin IS. Apparently, neither does he.
What a shame at 65 years-old. We expect that from our children , not from an old man.
You name one Democrat first.
Vinnie
Wrong. Vinnie is corrupt to the core. He is a Toal disciple and will do anything she says. I knew Uncle Bob decades ago and he was an honest man. He knew how to play politics, but he tried to be fair. Vinnie and Toal don’t even try to be honest. Vinnie gets others to actually do the dirty work (James Smith), but he could not hide his vote for Toal.
Who is James Smith? Just a ‘fly’ by question?
Doris, I am buyin at the Beaver Bar Friday evening. Bring James Smith with ya. No worries.I will have a wheelchair available if the cane gets eatin by termites when you walk to the bar.
The more the merrier!!!!! :-)))))))))))))
no facts, cowardly comment
Tom Ervin?
He asked the question first, Dabo lover, try to follow along.
Shouldn’t you be licking Dylan Thomas’s jock?
Can anyone explain the difference to me? How do SC Repugnants differ from SC Dummycraps? Give examples.
Bonus question: explain why the majority of SC Repugnants were originally SC Dummycraps that switched.
Please be as explicit and detailed as possible. As always when it comes to politicians lies and fabrications are expected.
“Bonus question: explain why the majority of SC Repugnants were originally SC Dummycraps that switched.”
.
For historical reasons, the SC Democratic Party used to be the white supremacy party. When that changed under influence of national party changes, the anti-civil-rights partisans took over the then-insignificant SC GOP and drove off the blacks who co-dominated it. It’s bit more complicated than this but not much.
Andre Bauer
FITS and The State newspaper beating Harrell to death, while Steve Benjamin is on fire w/ courtroom testimony of corruption…, w/ not much liberal media interest…
Great read: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/
This Harrell case is REAL boring compared to the HIGHLY interesting case of Steve Benjamin, the state’s TOP Democrat.
Let Harrell pay if he was not doing right…but it seems all you liberals have right now, is tight ethics rules, so you can go after high-profile Republicans…
Benjamin is cavorting w/ “exotic dancers, getting a $50K pay-out and accused of influence peddling…and you don’t want to talk about that. LMAO. But you want to beat this Harrell thing to death,…
2 months ago you said, ” The State ” newspaper was the vital, accurate news source in SC ?
That was before he (she?) started his (her?) blog.
I find it amusing that you think that Benjamin is the states top democrat. What about Joe Riley? You Columbia folks can see past that muddy Broad River
When it rains hard in the old Jake/Jimmy dukedom, Lexington County, the Saluda River is a mudhole too. No erosion laws are enforced there, much like the many other laws. Maybe Frazier had the indulgence concession on that too.
So, I’m assuming if true this will finish him off.
Ervin or Harrell? Deo has posted as FACT Tom Ervin is corrupt.
This would also include your boss Haley! he said all Republicans! So I guess that includes you too!
I can honestly say, I’m a Republican and pretty much agree about you and Haley…Ervin, I actually think is a great guy!
Appears you are obsessed with Sandi and her….Oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We don’t work for Nikki and you AIN’T no Republican!!!!!!!!!
My guess is you are one of the 20,000 Democrats that signed Ervin’s petitions to elect Sheheen?
Well,if he’s indicted,this will look like chicken feed,
Howe and Daniels are milking the cash cow for everything they can get. Since campaign funds are being used, the citizens of South Carolina are fully entitled to Howe’s and Daniels’ itemized BILLING to Booby Harrell. They better give it up when it is requested.
Scooter, Wilson should disclose how much taxpayer money he has spent on his frivolous lawsuit, grand jury, and ten month SLED investigation against Harrell.
How much money has Wilson wasted? He better give it up when it is requested.
It IS available. FOI. Oh, and it ISN’T a waste if Harrell is convicted. And WHY did Harrell fight so hard to kill the investigation if nothing is there???
Didn’t answer the question Scooter, how much money has Wilson wasted?
Using campaign funds to defend himself in a felony criminal investigation. And most of the money has been previously accused of mis-using was not even used for official government business. Most of it was PERSONAL business … recreation and vacations, etc. Harrell is a triple douche bag. And those that recently contributed to his campaign account, you can bet the FBI has been watching them or will be. And if they have or will, you can also bet they will be digging into every thing those donors have had their hands in for the last 5 to 10 years. Sheeshus! Harrell will not be the only one going down. And he will. I am 110% sure of that.
no facts. cowardly comment
I thought Jean’s sex change had been in progress for several decades, now.
She got as far as wearing men’s clothes and chickened out.
Thank you, Squishy! That explains a lot.
:-D
Manning will disqualify Wilson, and then he will appeal, and the Supremes will uphold his disqualification, and Harrell will go free.
Otherwise, it will be a dangerous precedent for graft and corruption.
you forgot the part where an assistant will try the case and most likely prevail.
Too easy, huh?
Don’t think so Scooter.
Manning will disqualify Wilson, and then he will appeal, and the Supremes will uphold his disqualification, and Harrell will go free. BAM!
Yes, you’re right – an obvious rung in the ladder I missed.
The assistant will be a disposable Harrell sycophant.
Pfft! You want to have federal charges thrown in your face? Toal most certainly will. I am sick and tired of that old drunk hag.
We’ve known this at least since Sanford: It’s time to change the ethics laws – state and federal – so that no legal fees can be paid from campaign funds.
Not having to pay your legal bills out of your own pocket is a real disincentive to do right all the time.
You would think that only campaign related expenses could be paid from campaign funds.
” for matters related to the discharge of their official duties.” …………………. His records show it was no “official duties.” It was getaways. There were countless trips not even related to anything “official.” This is why he refuses to disclose his records. He will go to prison. But remember, Jeal Toal illegally set it up to CLOSE THE DOORS to the public on a hearing regarding an upcoming hearing. Manning’s office should be BUGGED, it if isn’t already. Toal is in on the corruption, I tell you. It is written all over the wall. She needs to go to prison with Harrell. And we the people must insure that SHE DOES. The old lady is sick in the head. Her abuse of alcohol contributes to it.
Actually, this case is good for the Charleston economy. Harrell gives money to G. Howe who spends lavishly in restaurants, boutiques and in the high end Charleston bars. He tips well which is good for the lower service class in Charleston. Daniel is educating children and living well. It’s better for the money to be spent this way than on ads to re-elect Harrell.