SC

Kela Thomas: We Called It

ANOTHER NIKKI HALEY “CABINET CASUALTY” By FITSNEWS  ||  Earlier this week we received reports indicating the head of S.C. Department of Probation Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) director Kela Thomas was on the chopping block. Shortly after our report was published, the blade fell … Thomas has formally “resigned” her post…

ANOTHER NIKKI HALEY “CABINET CASUALTY”

By FITSNEWS  ||  Earlier this week we received reports indicating the head of S.C. Department of Probation Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) director Kela Thomas was on the chopping block.

Shortly after our report was published, the blade fell …

Thomas has formally “resigned” her post in S.C. governor Nikki Haley‘s cabinet – becoming the fifth Haley cabinet director to step down amid scandal.  Previously, Haley has been forced to accept the resignations of Lillian Koller at the S.C. Department of Social Services, Abraham Turner at the S.C. Department of Workforce, Jim Etter at the S.C. Department of Revenue and Robert St. Onge of the S.C. Department of Transportation.

All went down under duress … and several of them went down due to scandals originating on this website.

Anyway … Thomas could have been booted for any number of reasons: Rank insubordination, missing money or allegations of discriminatory hiring.  Or she could have simply outlived her usefulness to Haley.

Whatever it was, our tip lines have been flooded with Thomas-related tidbits in the aftermath of her resignation – meaning we’ve been working overtime in an effort to get the information independently confirmed.

And while nothing yet points to a “smoking gun” related to Thomas’ dismissal, we have received several accounts reinforcing the narrative that Thomas was – and is – a racist.

“Everything was color-based,” one of our agency moles said of Thomas. “Everything.”

In one case, FITS has learned that Thomas demoted a white staffer – we’ll call her “MJ” – after questions were raised about a black staffer’s mishandling of a loaded gun.  Specifically, a black SCDPPPS employee left her unsecured duty weapon in a car being used to transport a prisoner – a major violation of the agency’s safety protocols

After reporting the incident, MJ was called into her supervisor’s office where she was allegedly “attacked professionally and personally.”

MJ – a supervisor of the agency’s sex offender tracking network – was eventually removed from her post, costing her an estimated $4,200 in earnings.

“I was replaced with a black supervisor,” MJ tells FITS.  “And I was removed as retaliation for turning (a black employee) in.”

We’ve heard countless similar stories – all involving black employees being shown favoritism over white employees.

MJ worked at SCDPPPS for eight years.  She left the agency recently for a job in the private sector.

“The first few years weren’t bad at all,” she told us.  “It was when Tricky Nikki appointed Kela that it got bad.”

Count on FITS to continue digging into this agency … especially seeing as Haley’s administration has proven that high-level firings don’t always produce positive changes (or good replacements).

***

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47 comments

The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 11:00 am

She might be a racist at work but I’m an old white dude and have had a beer or two with her on several occasions and didn’t notice any racism at all.

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Smirks December 19, 2014 at 11:11 am

The most successful racists are the subtle ones, though. (At least, subtle until there’s nothing you can do about it.)

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The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 11:28 am

I’d agree except the association here is purely social through other friends – no reason to even entertain me if she had a thing against “white folks”.

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nitrat December 19, 2014 at 1:47 pm

She likely is simply as poor a manager as Haley (and, Sanford) and when she came on board some of the black managers thought they could get away with stuff and get back at people.
When people from off the street are appointed to head agencies they know nothing about – either staff or policies – this is what we frequently get.

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The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 1:58 pm

She hardly “…walked in of the street…” she’s been a deputy director there since 1999.

Squishy123 December 19, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Is she related to Lillian McBride?

nitrat December 20, 2014 at 9:49 am

Thanks for the info.
That must have been a first for a Haley agency head appointee.
I wonder what made Trikki change her MO for SCPPP?

Flip Coscoe December 19, 2014 at 11:54 am

We agree.Obama appealed to the white ‘middle class’ by telling them that he was all about healing and bringing people together.

After being elected and there was nothing the voters could do about it, he has proceeded to use the race hustlers in this country to pour gasoline on race relations while Holder’s DOJ continues to light the match.

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rdj December 19, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Amen

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shifty henry December 19, 2014 at 11:09 am

@Walmart:: Raid Double Control/ Roach Baits + Egg Stoppers (15 count) — $9.42

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BillBrasky December 19, 2014 at 2:47 pm

She should have been fired over a year ago on the day the LAC report was released. Any CEO that shows racism in their hiring decisions and “loses” money would be kicked to the curb, and she should have been.

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rdj December 19, 2014 at 11:30 am

Im starting to think ole Colonel is a spin doctor. Also seems like Fits again is well ahead of the mainstream media.

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The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 11:53 am Reply
rdj December 19, 2014 at 12:40 pm

On the chopping block … seems like Will was on to something around December 17th

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Flip Coscoe December 19, 2014 at 11:56 am

Colonel seems like an educated, nice man with a love of country. Politically, just a RINO.

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The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 12:17 pm

Politically just a conservative – no longer a Republican anything.

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Flip Coscoe December 19, 2014 at 12:19 pm

I know that. Your volunteer work for ‘life’ was noted. Have a great Christmas.

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Buz Martin December 19, 2014 at 4:08 pm

pogo again

GrandTango December 19, 2014 at 11:31 am

“and several of them went down due to scandals originating on this website” ….
Just like the campaigns of Nancy Mace, Thomas Ravenel and Tom Ervin….LMAO….

But is that something you should BRAG about???…destroying people’s career – especially people you love – because they appear on your Septic Website????…Hahahaha…Only FITS is this stupid…

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GrandTango December 19, 2014 at 11:38 am

But FITS…You swore Affirmative Action is holy…and now you’re disavowing it..???
What will your leftwing minions, who swear by AA, say????….What will the cast of Mississippi Burning think of you? Don’t you LIKE Steve Benjamin, Gerald Malloy, Robert Ford and Bakari Sellers…???

Until The GOP FUMIGATES ALL liberals from all influence, we’ll swirl downward…There is no short cut or option…We MUST eradicate liberalism from leadership positions, or we continue to fail….

Good Conservative people are ignored, while some FITS-type-middling Dumb@$$ Republicans hustle to show how “open-minded” they can be by exalting Hateful liberal Racists, sexists and bigots…

FITS is a great example of Liberal-Tarians, trying to stay hip to pop culture…but laying some claim to the wisdom of Conservatism. It’s just not possible to be part liberal…and be successful at anything. Conservative…or nothing…

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Smirks December 19, 2014 at 11:45 am

Another classic post by GrandTango proving he has zero reading comprehension. Yes, I’m sure Willie just looooves Mayor Benjamin.

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GrandTango December 19, 2014 at 12:19 pm

Do a search…educate yourself. And you’ll see what I’m talking about….

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Smirks December 19, 2014 at 1:49 pm

I actually read the articles, so I actually know FITS does not write favorable things about Benjamin.

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The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 1:52 pm

You mean we’re supposed to actually read the articles before we spout off?

Buz Martin December 19, 2014 at 4:11 pm

Right. Far from it. Never speaks in favor of affirmative action, either. Not sure what the Mississipi Burning reference is all about, unless GT thinks the KKK are the epitome of conservative values. Just more of his twisted bullshit.

GrandTango December 19, 2014 at 5:01 pm

Looks like you’re as IGNORAT to the man you blindly follow as Smirks….
Search Mississippi Burning on FITS, if FITS has not deleted it…because I caught him peddling the type of ignorance, the common liberal espouses about racial issues….

The Colonel December 19, 2014 at 7:15 pm

Editor’s note: “ignorant”

GrandTango December 20, 2014 at 6:45 am

Huh?

GrandTango December 19, 2014 at 4:59 pm

He claims he does not agree w/ Molly Spearman, but he falls all over his @$$ to exclaim that he “LIKES” her personally…just as he labors to ensure all that he LIKES any Black hateful, racist and failed public figure..as he also begs us to believe he HATES their policy.

Yet he HATES ALMOST ALL Republicans and savages them personally and gratuitously….And the Dumb@$$#$ (go look in the mirror, I’ll wait) fall for it…because you are as ignorant as FITS is…

grasan December 20, 2014 at 9:04 pm

I just wish there were more pictures…..

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rdj December 19, 2014 at 11:46 am

As a very conservative, born and lived all my life in SC who was taught to give everyone a chance … NO RACISM … I even voted for the great Changer Obama. Who is no MLK by the way. All ive seen is reverse racism becoming more prevalent. Im slowly realizing that the limousine liberals are no different than the republicans they hate. Just using a different ploy. But you need to give Will his props, who else is trying to get the word out about all the BS

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Race Card December 22, 2014 at 1:34 pm

The question you have to ask is, why is Obama hanging out with two black people?

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rdj December 19, 2014 at 11:58 am

Not to many people reading the State these days. Also i don’t think people got fired cause Will made shit up. Someone somewhere found out his reporting was on the money.

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rdj December 19, 2014 at 12:03 pm

Don’t twist things. I never said anything about his personality or dedication to country. I dont know him at all other than he seems to take great joy in discrediting Will as much as possible on Wills website.

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you know me December 19, 2014 at 12:14 pm

She looks like a young Aunt Esther from Sanford and Son. I’ll never forget that episode where Fred told Esther she should press her face into dough and make gorilla cookies. Maybe Kela could try that.

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Silvio Dante December 19, 2014 at 12:17 pm

Watch it, sucka.

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ohnoyoudiint! December 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm

She might..but her ass is already as big as Aunt Jemima’s.

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Squishy123 December 19, 2014 at 5:04 pm

To the black men, that’s sexy.

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Life at SCDPPP December 19, 2014 at 1:28 pm

She was vicious to all races that was not in her inner circle. And for Haley to leave Scooter in charge, he is just as bad. Scooter needs to ride off on his tricycle and suck on a pacifier.

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Nancy P December 19, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Thomas was more racist against her on race and Norton assisted her in everyway. PPP is really a good agency. We just had the cruelest EMT, Director and other field soldiers that got joy on tormenting us. Hope the Acting Director will be gone by the new year.

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Shannon December 19, 2014 at 7:07 pm

So many lawsuits there and at another agency. Keep digging there were some serious wrong doing going on there and going on at another agency…..lets see thats $300 grand a pop taxpayers.

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it's me December 20, 2014 at 6:28 am

Kela Thomas is a mean, evil, vindictive sociopath. She was incompetent before Steve Benjamin felt sorry for her and gave her a job. She was incompetent as Deputy Director and she is by far the most incompetent and despised director PPP has ever had. The disdain for Thomas has no color boundaries. She is hated equally by all races; and all races are happy to see her go. The only exceptions are the members of her bully club that were promoted to positions for which they were not remotely qualified. Now they are afraid of the inevitable ax falling in their direction. Hopefully the new director will chop the EMT trees as the first order of business. All of them are power-drunk incompetents.

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Anonymous December 20, 2014 at 12:21 pm

Predictions on how long before you add Susan DeVenny, First Steps director, to that list? If recent testimony at the First Steps study committee is any indication, legislators now know the problems are because of her inability to be on good terms with pretty much everybody she was supposed to be working with.

Don’t miss the last five minutes of testimony where the chair asks for Susan to say a few words to the committee since she’s been at every session without testifying. Senator Mike Fair quickly intercedes saying DeVenny needs time to prepare her remarks.

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Turn It Inside Out December 20, 2014 at 2:52 pm

That entire agency is a shipwreck of illegal activity. It has operated in the shadows for decades now. Turn it inside out, and you will see what I mean. How can you respect the law when the law is not respectable. These people often violate constitutional law and civil rights statutes like you would not believe. They have secretly been called down over it many times before. Just ask the lawyers who handle civil rights cases, if they will talk that is.

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Turn It Inside Out December 20, 2014 at 3:05 pm

Did Kela Thomas and others at SCDPPPS commit FELONIES? — South Carolina Code > Title 16 > Chapter 5 – Offenses Against Civil Rights —- It is unlawful for two or more persons to band or conspire together or go in disguise upon the public highway or upon the premises of another with the intent to injure, oppress, or violate the person or property of a citizen because of his political opinion or his expression or exercise of the same or attempt by any means, measures, or acts to hinder, prevent, or obstruct a citizen in the free exercise and enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution and laws of the United States or by the Constitution and laws of this State.

A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. A person convicted under this section is ineligible to hold, and disabled from holding, any office of honor, trust, or profit in this State.

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Freefromppp December 21, 2014 at 7:13 pm

So this would apply also to the people that were written up for expressing their personal opinions of the agency and her on any social media site as well? Because there were several.

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Paula December 20, 2014 at 4:39 pm Reply

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