CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION COULD ECLIPSE “OPERATION LOST TRUST”
By FITSNEWS || A storm is coming to the S.C. House of Representatives … namely, a corruption sting that will make the 1991 Operation Lost Trust scandal resemble “a handful of parking tickets,” according to one veteran S.C. State House lobbyist familiar with the inner workings of the investigation.
“They are burning down the (S.C.) House. This is the ghost of William Tecumseh Sherman returning to finish what he started,” the lobbyist added, referring to the alleged destruction of the State House by Sherman’s Union Army curing the Carolinas Campaign of 1865.
Another source in Washington, D.C. who has been discussing the case with prosecutors said the current investigation would make Lost Trust – which snared seventeen South Carolina lawmakers in a sweeping public corruption sting a quarter century ago – “look like a walk in the park.”
Federal prosecutors continue to confirm to us that an investigation of “state lawmakers” is ongoing, but thus far they are refusing to confirm which officials are being investigated – or what they are being investigated for.
This is the fourth time we’ve written about the pending federal probe (previous reports HERE, HERE and HERE) – and each time we write on it, we gather additional specificity on exactly what’s happening.
Here’s what we know so far:
First, we’re told the investigation is federal – with state investigators providing cooperation and assistance “in multiple branches,” an interesting turn of phrase we’ll elaborate on in a moment.
Second, we’re told the ongoing operation has been in effect since January and will yield multiple federal indictments – and that these indictments will be handed down no later than Christmas (i.e. before the start of the 2015-16 legislative session).
Third, we’re told the investigation is very broad but contains at least three main areas of focus – 1) misuse of campaign funds, 2) abusing public offices for personal gain and 3) vote-trading (or vote-selling) tied to the February 2014 legislative election that saw Jean Toal win another term as chief justice of the state’s supreme court.
At the time, FITS reported exclusively on efforts by suspended S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell – who is currently facing a nine-count state indictment on other corruption charges – to rig the judicial election in Toal’s favor.
According to our sources, Toal is scheduled to be interviewed by federal authorities regarding her knowledge and possible involvement in the plot.
Which would seem to explain the “multiple branches of government” reference.
Also reportedly scheduled to be interviewed? Harrell – and S.C. Reps. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Bill Sandifer, Jenny Horne, Jimmy Merrill and Brian White.
At least a half-dozen names of other lawmakers have been provided to FITS – but we have yet to receive independent confirmation regarding their questioning.
Worth noting, not all of the names we’ve been provided with are suspected of committing criminal acts – some are reportedly being questioned for purposes of verifying information involving their colleagues.
So bear that in mind as the feeding frenzy under the State House dome begins …
In addition to these lawmakers, feds have also reportedly been negotiating with a “star witness” – said to be a former Harrell confidante who has intimate knowledge of illegal activity conducted at his direction and on his behalf.
FITS has been provided with details of this confidante’s testimony, but once again are awaiting independent confirmation.
In other words, stay tuned …
97 comments
FITS can always hope….Sheheen must have gotten the latest poll numbers that the GOP campaign worker gave us last week. They’ve moved staff out of SC, to work on competitive races.
PS: Any word on those CWS games the Gamecocks will have to “Vacate?”…. (:
Don’t hurt yourself patting yourself on the back. You “broke” the story of vote-swapping 3 months after the fact, after it was common knowledge and after going on record on this website saying there was no difference between the two candidates.
before Christmas. So the voters will likely find out AFTER the election.
either way, shits bout to get real
Sherman didn’t burn down the State house – the rebs did that themselves when they set the cotton bails on fire along Gervais. Just like Harrell et al did it to themselves this time. Crooked southern politicians are easy to spot, they wear flags on their jacket lapels, attend the local First Baptist Church, vow fidelity to their wives, cheat with young girls from the First Baptist Church, and spend their campaing money to keep their wives from divorcing them by getting them Mercedes SUVs. Oh, and they’re usually stuffed with BBQ.
Yea, and Lincoln shot hisself, too.
No – another Thesbian Reb did that.
Thesbian: a lesbian actor?
Booth was a gay actor – everyone knows that. He was aiming for Mary Lincoln, wanted her out of the way.
You left out belonging to the MASON’s!
Sherman was a caring, loving man who freed millions of slaves from the bondage of slavery, and to whom many Southerners adorned with gifts of bacon, smoked hams, crops and other foods as he traveled the countryside bring cheer and joy. And you know it.
Am I to assume you took offense at my “dis” of the Royal Order of the Ring Bumpers?
:)
Sherman was a war criminal.
Only if the other side had won…
Only if the other side had won…
The “other side” did win.
Clearly a perspective issue… when I teach the Civil War I always have to be careful how I describe the actions of the opposing sides. I’ve had more than one student say “Wait, what do you mean “we” kicked their ass at First Manassas?”
Lol. This is quite the conspiracy theory.
Match, cotton, fire – oops.
Yes, yes. Sherman saved Columbia! As told by Sherman and his soldiers themselves…the victors write the history books, I presume.
Idiot – the “House” at that time was a two story wooden structure to the west of the current state house. Sherman’s artillery burned it to the ground firing “hot shot” from across the river. The current “State House” was under construction at the time and the shell was not finished until 1875 – the actual project completion date is 1907.
The heat from the fire of the burning wooden “State House” was so hot that the granite exterior on the south west corner of the west wing was spalled. That fire occurred long before the fires were set in Columbia. Sherman’s troops are equally responsible for the burning of the rest of Columbia as they did Atlanta and a myriad of other southern cities:
“… I shall then feel justified in resorting to the harshest measures, and shall make little effort to restrain my army—burning to avenge the national wrong which they attach to Savannah and other large cities which have been so prominent in dragging our country into civil war….”
— William T. Sherman , Message to William J. Hardee, December 17, 1864, recorded in his memoirs
A partial list of Sherman’s pyromaniacal visits:
Atlanta
Savannah
Columbia
Orangeburg
Fayetteville
Bentonville
Raleigh
Goldsboro
Midgeville
Sherman was America’s First WAR CRIMINAL!
Even Grant couldn’t control his men when they marched back to Washington, DC after the war. Just a bunch of lawless thugs led by a drunken war criminal: Sherman.
Not even close. Patriots in and around Charlotte were down right criminal in their war with Cornwall is earned for themselves the nickname “hornets nest”.
There is no reason to bring the Horry County delegation into this.
HAW!
You forgot racist and misogynistic.
Gilda Cobb-Hunter?
*sings*
“We don’t need no water, let that muthaf….”
This story is a joke. Your source is a “lobbyist”? Yeah, lobbyists never lie.
Maybe Jenny Horne can propose a bill to both honor cheer leading squads and Fed investigation squads as well.
How is the Senate evading scrutiny?
The House is bad, the Senate Horrid!
Leatherman
Peeler
Courson
Martin
Cromer
Is this why McGill took the Lt. Gov. position?
I heard there were a few who missed lost trust by the skin on their teeth. hopefully this time, they will not!!!
Its amazing how she reminds every judge she appears in front of that she is a member of the house. Real slime ball.
“Awaiting independent confirmation” = I actually made this up and know nobody will ever confirm it.
Will has a pretty good track record in my book. Nailed the Lexington Ring pretty spot on – it just dragged out. As it often does. Same with Harrell – he had that pretty much spot on. I’ll take it for granted these are coming down the pike, and we’ll see a lot of shagging come January / Febuary.
PS – I still think the Argentine mistress is really hot.
Damn skippy she is.
Maurice-o-licous.
Making stuff up w/ no basis in fact is the definition of reckless disregard for the truth, which is the quickest way to get sued by a public official … (waiting, waiting)
Remember that time Nikki Haley sued you? Me neither.
Everyone knows you can’t successfully prove a negative in court.
What would her “negative” be, then? That she didn’t really fuck him? Wouldn’t that be a “positive” for her?
Do you even think for a second about this shit before you post it? Or is it like diarrhea? No time to think, just let it flow.
Think! How do you prove something didn’t happen? There is never evidence left of nothing happening. She can’t possibly prove that nothing happened. Folks doesn’t have to prove anything. The burden of proof is on her because she would be suing.
“Do you even think for a second about this shit before you post it? Or is it like diarrhea? No time to think, just let it flow.”
Jus’ bustin’ yer chops, homie. I knew what ya meant.
Chops busted…
As Plaintiff she would have the burden of proof, so it would be an uphill battle to be successful, for sure. But if someone falsely accuses you of adultery, drags your name through the mud, and subjects you to public ridicule, then why not at least put forth some effort, even if the case is ultimately unsuccessful to defend yourself?
Because truth is a damn defense. Also, as we now know, Nikki does NOT want to be deposed – too many skeletons.
Exactly.
Because nobodies like Folks could tie up public figures in court with lies and never lose and if they did would have no resources to pay an award. How would a lawyer get paid.
Yea, Sic Willie probably sat down one evening and churned out hundreds of pages of fake texts between him and Haley, entered them into his phone, and then managed to somehow dupe his cell carrier’s technology into thinking they were sent back and forth before submitting them to scrutiny.
Yeah, you have to watch Will. He’s sneaky like that!
:-D
But if that car had cloth seats – she’d be in trouble. Hence – she no sue. Blue dress, blue cloth interior – it all stains the same.
You can’t sue – if it’s true!!!!
Former SC legislator and lobbyist Mark Kelley from Harry County successfully sued The Sun News and reporter David Wren this past year for defamation and won a judgement against both for over a half million dollars.
The court even ruled that Kelley was a “public” figure and he still won.
Under appeal. It will be overturned.
OK, “the fly” — Lay it on me, douche-nozzle. Speedos, drag show, fat, stinky, cripple, wheezing, broke, mamma house, dissed Charlie Horseteefers on da Crick, no friends, no job, bla bla bla fuckitty bla.
Lol…You don’t recall “Sunny” from the SNOB calling you “the fly” in between your weekly banishment’s from that site?
You and Fits make quite a team. :-) No hard feelings and hope your mom is well.
Yes, I do remember that, pogo. That was when I first came on to confront the drunk-driving hit-&-run pug-ugly total disaster Thomas Gordon Davis for all of his lies and stalking behavior toward me and my family. She did not know me personally then. She does now, and we are friends, in real life. She, like everyone else, has since seen TGD reveal himself for the total piece of crap that he is. Sad that you and your buddies here (or are you all the same person?) can’t do better than dredging up all this crap, which was more the product of Davis’ hopelesslly wet, sociopathetic brain than anything else.
Just shows how dim voters/jurors really are.
Had to be some of the dimmest fuckers in the state on that one. It was testified by one of Kelley’s own witnesses that he had broken the law in a related matter, even though Wren’s reporting had always CLEARLY stated that he had not done so regarding the checks. To find Wren guilty there should have been some proof that it he was stating something negative that could not be proven true, and doing so intentionally and maliciously. All he ever stated was that the dude was at a table with Dean and Barrett. An obviously verifiable fact. RIPE for appeal, absolutely.
What about the IRS scandal? I guess it’ s okay for Democrats to persecute and to discriminate against political minorities.
Ed Givens is ratting on everyone in return for probation and no opposition to getting his law license back once the dust settles.
You’re really getting my hopes up now. Is there a place where we can put in requests? There is so much corruption in S.C. to choose from, but I’d like to gently nudge the investigators toward the I-526 shenanigans down in Charleston.
This is gonna be a trip if the “former Harrell confidante” turns out to be convicted banker-turned-felon Chris Latham. They are/were best buddies. If Latham had any dirt on Harrell, I figure he’d offer up Harrell in exchange for some consideration.
The federal indictments coming before the end of december spells a disaster for the voters. If we do not know who are the targets of this investigation, voters are not given critical information they need to decide on their vote. The federal prosecutors are also playing the same frustrating game in house district 108 elections (Vida Miller/Stephen Goldfinch), where Goldfinch is charged with federal crime but the prosecutors have introduced so much confusion into the minds of the electorate. That 108 elections is a mess right now and public is confused and angry and just want to know the truth about Goldfinch to just make a decision. So what are the voters supposed to do? Vote for somebody that is going to be indicted in december and going to prison. This is a crying shame and an insult to the voters who just want their government to run smoothly and their needs are in focus….and not the prosecutors/federal agents/ or the attorney general vying for media attention after elections. Terrible!
Don’t worry. There will be special elections once they are removed from office.
Special elections cost alot of money.
And get a wide variety of bizarro candidates elected…
NONE of this will mean a damn to voters this fall. Obama fucked America and now the dems are getting ready to get fucked. Dems can’t lie,cheat or steal their way out of this annihilation. From the dog catcher to the senate the dems are finished.
what the what?
There is a simple answer for the voters. Vote for the guy not in office. That way you know you guy is not involved. Also has the advantage of cleaning house and starting over. Which is something we have needed to do in this state for about 20 years.
I am with you on that…and lay down some ground rules saying “fellas, if you do somin bad, just don’t run the election next time, otherwise your criminal penalties will be doubled (or tripled) if you are found out”…just like these mean dicks write laws that result in similar escalation of penalties for us, depending on if its first time or second time offense. Will that be fair for everybody now?
Oh, the indignities the statehouse has endured.
That of Willy Sherman is the one that’s most referred.
But many things can reduce a legislature to ashes,
Especially temptation, ’cause “that’s where the cash is.”
Or so said Willie Sutton.
And also many politicians wearing a Palmetto button.
If the Feds are really investigating Toal, somebody needs to tell them how she can lie with such ease. When she lies, it takes twice as long to sort out the facts and catch her, then usually, the investigator gives up and moves on to something easier. But if they are investigating Toal, they need to talk with Tom Davis, Chip Campsen and Wes Hayes. These 3 sold out their votes for something.
Vinny Sheheen has yet to explain why he voted for Toal other than she was a buddy of his uncle – and they covered for each other in oh, so many ways.
No Senate????? Just look at Ford and the Senate should be taking part in this operation. The Senate is where all the power is right now.
Is this the reason that Haley is planning a trip to India immediately after the election? Is the trip being made to avoid prosecution? Is the trip going to be one-way? Anybody know?
Wow. Never thought of that. Some one needs to check what kind of treaty we have with India.
Really. Why plan a post election trip, spending thousands $$$$ of taxpayer’s dollars when you could lose the election? She must certainly know that she could lose.
Hold tight.
Wait till the party’s over.
Hold tight.
We’re in for nasty weather
I hope Chip Slimehouse figures prominently in this and gets some time.
What about pseudo-gun rights advocate Mikey Pitts from Laurens and Greenwood Counties? It would be great to see him caught up in this, too!
I don’t think they’re taking orders from the public at this time.
Hey, we can hope! I don’t see how they can miss Slimehouse, or his relative in LexCo who got frequent passes from the Sheriff here on various misdeeds. (old Sheriff, not current one)
Too bad there isn’t a truth in advertising law that they could hit false pro-gun slimebag Mike Pitts with. He is anything but a friend of gun owners.
Yeah. If they wanted to round up every crooked pol in the state, all at one time, it would take an enourmous fleet of paddy wagons to do it. The mind boggles.
.
WHERE is …..LIN Bennett’s name in all this….!!!?
Hell…..that seat video is PRICELESS….!!!!
Geez, this investigation should go farther back than…..JANUARY….?? The whole fiasco should have tentacles to every LANDFILL permit across our state……especially HORRY COUNTY and Tim Scott and Bees Ferry Landfill…!!!! (Nelson Hardwick)
This whole fiasco is just like the CAMORRA crime family scam in Naples Italy….!! Talk about trying to get a family to use new technology. At least we did not have as many people get killed here in South Carolina when CELL PHONES started taking out the telephone monopoly…!!
These guys can shred every receipt and scream “sorry” all they want too; but a REAL ESTATE Deed is ……….deadly…!!!
What is so insulting is to read these names that Wil offers in this presser and then to actually sit back and realize just how dumb he treat SMIRKS and COLONEL and Mande WIlkes and everyone of his valued network connections. Any Informational specialist worth his salt and honor would realize that EVERY legislator is under review…….along with every INTERN and state house civil SERVANT…!! If these fine citizens can get outraged at how billions went missing in IRAQ and Afghanistan and NOT be outraged at how hidden the money they spend and receive can not be as transparent as their own BANK ACCOUNT to themselves….. then the WHOLE lot should be ………exposed…!!
Dare to wonder what SHERMAN would do to them if he were to MARCH through ….today…??
Dear Mr. Chip Limehouse………
When you read this article here… http://www.fedtechmagazine.com/article/2014/09/why-social-media-goldmine-government
…what is it telling you versus what it is telling Wil Folks and Buz Martin…?
…now, think for a second, (We know U can think) ……what does it tell an advertiser or “sponsor”..?!
….hmm, makes the Charleston Airport Authority notes and recordings very interesting to 900 Million “lollipops”…!
Ya know….Chip, how would a Chicago intern view a “Boeing” real estate purchase a lot like a “campaign contribution”..?
How many renters in a trailer Park were covered by STATE FARM renter’s Insurance…?
Chip, my friend, you may want to ask Lindsey Graham about certain Iraq reconstruction contractor “trickle down” economics..?
Burn it down for the nails:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g42Xg-mAkGg
Classic
Ditto…..
“Who gotta match?”
Stay tuned……?? Really Mr. Folks….?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bs2icpiR1s
lets hope the investigators do better than JOHN Ritter…..
Missing from the “list” of people who investigators want to talk with is Will Folks. Could that be because he really doesn’t know anything?
Lobbyist, lawmakers, a big town mayor, county council members, developers. Feds have for many months been going through the entire legislative system leaving no stone unturned. Many of you posting here, they have even checked your identities, and more. Sic would never know if they did or not. So don’t even go there. But they have. Too many of Harrell’s cronies were trolling FitsNews and some were making comments when all of this first started gathering steam. No, this is not far fetched. Its a fact. So laugh it you want. I don’t care. I am just happy as a fly on shit to see somebody finally having the balls to do the right thing, and take down the criminal empire that has been allowed to manifest itself to the level it has. US Attorney Bill Nettles had some tough decisions to make I am sure. Is he befriending Jean Toal? Did all those letters to Washington screaming for something to be done help? Maybe this will all be made into a movie when it’s over? But then, maybe I do not know what I am talking about. Do you? Time will tell.
Foghorns frogmarched!
Nothing else, sad to say, will start to clean up the Statehouse. Certainly not the voters.
Harrell is dropping dime on everyone.
While you are gathering your information, sic(k) willie, keep in mind we are still waiting and waiting and waiting for the details you promised over and over and over and over and over and over, about a Midlands’ elected official you once claimed had a “Strom problem.”
sic(k) willie will NEVER be a legitimate source of reliable news and information.
It’s the price he pays for being a paid political pimp.
Sorry. Instead of “political pimp” make that “political consultant.”
“Two aggressive young reporters at the The Post and Courier have been forced from their jobs after they published stories critical of powerful S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell ” … “Harrell speaks power to its spineless editors – who in turn do his bidding” …. “speculation has swirled as to what The Post and Courier‘s underlying motivation has been in going to such lengths to protect Harrell.” https://www.fitsnews.com/2013/06/03/charleston-post-and-corruption/#sKJcAcvFRUqscDvU.99
Post and Courier being probed? They tried to protect now former SC Judge Segars-Andrews, too (which failed).
SC Chief Justice Jean Toal and Circuit Court Judge Casey Manning sure seemed to go to great lengths to protect Harrell, too. The ways they reacted, responded, their words in court proceedings. Toal going non stop and on a rant blasting Atty Gen Wilson in open court. Both her and Casey doing everything they could to de-rail Atty Gen Wilson’s investigation of Harrell.
And we also saw Harrell himself and his cronies, try to pass legislation while he was under investigation that would put up more barriers basically shielding him from any investigations at the hands of any state prosecutor or law enforcement agency. Toal and Manning knew about it, but still were notably biased in every respect against Atty Gen Wilson. I mean, it just showed they were protecting Harrell. Wilson was always in then right. He stayed calm and did not react, nor over react like Harrell through it all. There are other things, of course. The never ending attacks and attempts to destroy his character – the smear Anti-Wilson websites. From all angles, non stop attacks on Atty Wilson with one goal in mind; to destroy and discredit him at all cost. And in my opinion, Judge Manning and Chief Justice Toal clearly played a roll in it all. US Attorney Bill Nettles appeared to not even give a hoot as to what was going on. It had to be the dozens of letters (some from SC attorneys) that were sent to Washington, DC that helped change it all. As Harrell and his cronies acted like a bunch of spoiled rotten children destined to get their way, the likelihood that more South Carolinians took up cause to start contacting the Department of Justice in D.C.
South Carolina is a total mess. Black robe crime is real just like white collar. From the legislature to the judicial, to the executive branch of SC, even down to their cronies who donated money to campaign accounts for things other than actual campaign expenses. Long prison sentences will certainly help with deterring those we hopefully can entrust that will take their places. Probation would be like a slap on the back of the hand. They all know what they are doing. They calculate. They see and they saw that nobody in state government was brave enough nor bold enough to stand up and get right in their faces. The hand full of public groups that did (like The Nerve, SC Policy Council, et al), they were looked upon like a few bothersome mosquitos. But that changed. It was dropped in Atty Willson’s lap. Reluctant to do anything at first, the pressure was turn up for him to do the right thing. A young Attorney General had a choice as the news grew to what was going on with the Harrell scandal. Eventually, Wilson decided to do the right thing. And again, they tried to destroy him from all angles. But he stayed the course, remaining un-rattled and focused.
Use a fine tooth comb and spare none of them in Harrell’s circle. Clean it all up. Lord knows it screams a need. And the US Department of Justice can do just that. Hopefully, they do not let us down. Attorney Wilson needs help to do it.
Toal and Manning are two of the most powerful Democrats in South Carolina. Nettles knows that as does the Department of Justice. Nothing will happen to them and they know it. Nettles will protect Toal.
Here’s your plot twist..
BH started it all, on purpose.