JAY LUCAS TO TAKE OVER AS INTERIM SPEAKER
S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell – one of the two most powerful elected officials in South Carolina – suspended himself from his leadership post today in the wake of his indictment on public corruption charges.
Harrell will hand over his Speaker duties during the suspension period to S.C. Speaker Pro Tempore Jay Lucas.
“We just want to get to the trial and prove his innocence,” a source close to Harrell told FITS of the decision.
According to the source there was a loophole Harrell could have exploited in order to remain Speaker, but that “the best interests of South Carolina” called for him to step aside pending the resolution of the charges against him.
We agree … and would give some rare credit to Harrell for acknowledging that.
(To read our story on Harrell’s indictment, CLICK HERE).
Harrell faces nine criminal charges at the state level – malfeasance, two counts of misconduct in office and six counts of campaign finance violations. Additionally, there is still widespread speculation that he is the subject of a federal investigation.
He’s also facing reelection on November 4 – against a credible Democratic opponent, Mary Tinkler. In fact House Democrats put out a statement moments after his suspension announcement signaling their intention to “devote all available resources” to Tinkler’s campaign.
Lucas is one of four state lawmakers said to be campaigning for Harrell’s job on a full-time basis, although he has reportedly refused to solicit commitments from lawmakers pending Harrell’s suspension.
The other lawmakers seeking the post are S.C. ways and means chairman Brian White (Anderson), former majority leader Kenny Bingham (Lexington) and former majority leader Jimmy Merrill (Charleston).
According to our sources, Lucas has the early lead in the race to replace Harrell.
19 comments
An opportunity to spend more time with his family
attorney.
So, is he suspended with or without pay? Should be without!
probably has a few pesos left in the campaign account even after paying his lawyers out of it. HIs has had no problem using it for personal expenses so far, why not a little more?
He suspended himself as speaker, I didn’t see where he was/is suspended from his position as a legislator. I think the new speaker would have to suspend him from that. So as a minimum he will likely still draw his legislative pay.
Now if that disaster in the Governors office would resign we could stop the death and destruction of kids and peoples lives. Haley needs to resign. Are any of her cabinet agencies not under investigation?
Now if that disaster in the Chief Justice position would resign….Let’s see which of her favorite circuit court judges gets the assignment of handling the Harrell trial.
So now the Speaker of the House, Jay Lucas, the Pres Pro Tem, Hugh Leatherman, the Lt Governor, Yancey McGill, not to mention DOR Director Rick Reames are all from the Pee Dee? It’s a takeover boys. Go Pee Dee!
You mean go I-73 and BIG OIL………
Leatherman is quietly taking over the state.
Republicans like Nikki Haley don’t care is a big spender, big government type like Leatherman takes total control…as long as they stay in office and continue to receive the perks.
You left out Leatherman putting McConnell in at College of Chas, and his takeover play at SC State (let them slide so far into debt he can have total control from the Senate Finance Cmte), installing reliable Peggy Boykin at PEBA, Mike Hittchcock are Investment Commission…and many more power plays to numerous to list.
Just think 1920, old south, total control by a single man, and you get the picture. And all planned and executed by Republicans,
We just want to get to the trial
——–
So why chew your leg off to get free, if all you wanted was to get to the trial?
What’s the matter Bobby….?
Did you get a call from the pipeline boyz that 900 Million was not enough…?
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Controversial-Proposed-Pipeline-Would-Bring-Shale-Gas-to-North-Carolina.html#top
Maybe Hugh Leathermen has been oiling hits boots while you have been flying around…?
Bobby……900 Million for Boeing and letting SCSU sit a simmer without any “leadership” has direct reverberations…!!
Its “hurricane season”..!!!
If he had not suspended himself, who had the authority to suspend him if anyone?
The sad thing is, his constituents will still vote for him because, God forbid, they ain’ voting for no libruulll.
Does he have the power to re instate himself? or is that Jay Lucas?
Just an Insurance Salesmen … Where does Harrell get all of his money from? ….. 3 very expensive automobiles …. a plane …. 2 boats … beach front property ….. another house on the water …. etc etc etc …. Did he inherit money from his dad the Charleston real estate and land developer man?
One indictment cited expenditures of $1 million from Mr. Harrell’s campaign account, of which he reimbursed himself $294,335 “in untaxed income and claimed that the payments were for legislative or campaign expenses.”
That indictment alleged that the account was used, in part, “to pay credit card debt and to pay for goods or services for his home, family and friends that were not for any purposes related to his campaign for or position in the South Carolina House of Representatives.”
The grand jury further charged that Mr. Harrell altered his pilot logbook and reimbursed himself for nonexistent flights.
LYING, LOWLIFE, CHEATING, STEALING, SCUM …. IRS TIME …. FAA INVESTIGATOR TIME … WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL. YOU KNOW HE HAS COMMITTED YEARS OF TAX FRAUD. YOU KNOW HE HAS BEEN TAKING KICK BACKS FROM LAND DEVELOPERS. SHALL WE SAY ‘I-526 BOONDOGGLE’?????? WHO IS HE CONNECTED TO IN LAND DEVELOPMENT???? HOW MUCH MONEY HERE???? ….
Hey Bobby Harrell………dare to guess what will happen when a certain lady from CLEMSON gets to trial…??
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140910/PC20/140919917
Ya know Bobby……..Wil Folks wife is NOT dumb and neither is Jenny Sanford…!!!
If you do not think that Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham and Jim Clyburn can not be sunk with a CLEMSON anchor….!!!
Diane Knich is very ….pushy..!!
****….meanwhile over in the Med Tea Room….*
Liz Gunn: “Jenny I am fed up…..can you believe how this woman from CLEMSON is being treated by the men at CLEMSON…?”
Jenny Sanford: ” Liz, honey, welcome to the great state of South Carolina. Nikki did not take all that Lexington Medical flap heat for nothing. 900 Million to BOEING regulates a lot of pace makers…”
Mande Wilkes: ” I want to get my hands around Hugh Leatherman so bad ……..where has he been …and who has he called from the press box at Memorial Stadium…!? ”
Anita Zucker: “I had no earthly idea just how many flights Lindsey Graham had taken before I sponsored that big shin dig at the Citadel years back…..and to think of all those women being killed in Israel and Gaza and Syria and Baghdad from brick walls falling down…”
Mrs. Wil Folks: ” Ladies, my heart is so heavy for this lady in Clemson…and to think that Bobby Harrell suspends himself on Sept 11…..geez, how many women fell out of those twin towers and hit concrete…”
Waitress: “Well, ladies, are you interested in a desert?. By the looks of your plates, your ready for some free desert. ”
Liz Gunn: “Free desert..?”
Waitress: “…Yes, Mr James B Holderman saw you all sitting over here and offered to splurge for your deserts….!! ”
Jenny Sanford: “Oh, God….”
I guess that’s sorta like “go fuck yourself” for real.