FORMER S.C. SPEAKER SETTLES CASE
The S.C. “Ethics” Commission’s case against former Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell is closed.
Finally …
Under the terms of a deal reached with lawmakers this week, Harrell must pay $113,000 to his campaign account – money he previously used to pay attorneys’ fees (of which he still owes an estimated $600,000). Additionally, Harrell was fined in the amount of $1,000 for improperly using campaign funds to pay his lawyers.
Bombshell news? Eh …
Frankly, we believe all of this should have become moot the day Harrell resigned his post in October of 2014 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
But the drama has continued … even as more egregious ethics allegations have been raised against other lawmakers.
Speaking of … the closure of Harrell’s case could result in some of the information regarding those lawmakers becoming a part of the public record.
Under state law, the deliberations of the House “Ethics” committee – chaired by S.C. Rep. Kenny Bingham of Cayce, S.C. – are secret. In fact, Bingham’s committee held a meeting on the Harrell matter recently in which the vast majority of its deliberations were conducted behind closed doors.
How’s that for “transparency?”
Now that Harrell’s case has been resolved, though, the information presented to lawmakers over the course of their “investigation” is subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Or at least it should be – especially if the materials were used in formulating a decision as to Harrell’s guilt or innocence.
Needless to say, this website will be among the media outlets submitting FOIA requests to Bingham’s committee in an effort to gain access to these documents.
Among the information that should now be publicly available? The un-redacted S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) report into allegations of legislative corruption at the S.C. State House.
This, of course, is the document which implicated Harrell and several other ranking lawmakers in connection with various self-serving deals. It is also a key component of the ongoing federal-state investigation into these ranking lawmakers – a probe S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson has gone to great lengths to shut down now that Harrell has been removed from office and the scrutiny has turned to several of his political allies.
Oddly enough, the Harrell settlement comes just days after this website exclusively reported on Wilson paying more than $28,000 to liberal Democratic S.C. House member James Smith out of his own campaign account.
28 comments
What’s with the ghost?
Is that the ‘ghost of Bingham’? :)
it’s a curse put upon anyone who gazes at it, and if a.a.a.a.r.r.r.g.g.g.h.h.h…!!
Stop looking, Shifty!!
Shifty …….. Shifty
Are you Ok?
Thanks for your concern, BT, I’m here but drowsy from an allergy relief tablet…..
“Oddly enough, the Harrell settlement comes just days after this website exclusively reported on Wilson paying more than $28,000 to liberal Democratic S.C. House member James Smith out of his own campaign account.”
Monkey see, monkey do. Next comes the poo flinging.
Corruption is virulent in South Carolina including the Attorney General, Wilson, who gives opinions after the facts to protect his buddies, senators and legislators with their own Ethics Committees guarding their own house, elected officials… State treasurer, Curtis Loftis with ethics violations with probable cause from the State Ethics Commission… pending…. He hired a friend with whom he is associated… 2 million dollars to him from the back of State retirees…. Urgent need: reform the Ethics laws in SC.
Loftis is guilty of violating the law, he lies and lies under oath.. Not qualified to be on the IC and should appoint someone who is, like the governor and the comptroller general do. Period. Loftis is the problem and must be removed from the IC. Legislators, do your job… Remove the problem Remove Curtis Loftis…
Give it a rest. Loftis is not going anywhere. He is golden in the polls and with the people that matter. Anonymous poster are morons.
Loftis is the biggest moron of all. He invented cyberbullying from way back. Lies, attacks without proof, violence against women, blatant racism, violence in the STO. %100 turn over in the STO because staff could not stand his shit.. very well documented, on paper… Loftis is not golden with HIS infectious disease, contagious for life, due to his gross life style…. WE KNOW HIM .
Wow. you are insane.
Let me count the ways.. Loftis has left indelible negative impressions where ever he went… From his attendance at USC (five years for a 2 years degree in Arts, from his disastrous testimonies in 1990, his “buckshit ” Saluda foundation (2001) Less than 6 months in 2007 in the Office of Aging, less than 6 months in 2008 in transparency in the office of the Comptroller general.. We know him well for his violent scenes in the STO and with the IC. All is on camera. Loftis has left indelible marks on his vile past and his past is his present and his future.
Oh, you filthy little liar. May God have mercy on your soul.
Serbia Orthodox church….. for what it is . The rule is dick head, is, don’t start a fire if you don’t want your ASS BURNED, This Curtis Loftis is a dumb fuck! 1/18/04 . WOTS this I hear Curtis that in 2001 you took on a man servant to look alter your every needs? The only qualification for the job was a huge dick.. U still taking that way? Curtis is busted.. He has been exposed as evil..His past is his present… No way to escape it. Loftis is a very sick vile man.
You poor filthy liar. My the good Lord have mercy on your evil soul.
“Serbia : Orthodox church supports restoration . In this post from 2003/2004, Curtis Loftis is posting as Lgwl1. cloftis, and richinus2003. Just as he does on Fitsnews, he uses multiple names but it is provable all emails come from his computer. Strange behavior’s it not? ” Yes. a very strange behavior ,, just like Curtis Loftis now. Lies and multiple alter egos. Loftis is a very sick man, a poor filthy liar. from way back. He needs to go… Not one positive action but millions lost from the trust fund of retirees in the pockets of friends and friends. 529 funds and unclaimed property funds and more… in the pockets of friends, the Bank of New York/Mellon… Transparency ,, Curtee… Transparency…
You poor filthy liar. How your soul is damage. So badly. May God have mercy on your soul.
Curtis loftis has a past and it is well documented. Fits has done a great job and Loftis has done a splendid job at exposing his lies, his gross behavior . The entire senate has voted against him. The Legislature will too. Mark my words.. a fool Curtis Loftis will lose since he has lost all credibility. Justice will be done and Loftis will go back to the bug control job in West Columbia. May be not, he is not qualified for that job either.
Poor silly, filthy liar. How sad your life must be.
May God have mercy on your sinful soul.
Loftis is golden? Not even gold platted but rotten to the core…Infected down to his family jewels…Tea party ladies, you do not want to see the jewels… Hehehe!
You poor filthy liar. Sitting in your own putrid filth. May God have mercy on your soul
Loftis said the Commission would perform poorly and it did. Loftis said the unfunded liability would grow and it did. Loftis said employer and employee rates would go up, and the are.
Loftis was right, and you, anonymous poster and fellow comrades, were wrong.
Admit it. Grow up. Move on. Or use your real name and claim your stupidity.
Loftis sits on the investment commission and has been on the commission for 6 years and he has not come up with one single opinion or solution. We need to see the funds in the STO , nice squishy funds and Loftis has his hands in them without supervision.. Unclaimed Property : Loftis says: In the past 90 days I’ve personally (not staff) located over $500.000 . My largest find is $750.000 … I am traveling to their home to tell them..” Yes, right. we believe that Curtis.. Did you need cash for the Bank of New York/ Mellon. Do you cash for your friends? Do you need cash for your own pockets.
Filthy, filthy little liar. May God have mercy on your tortured soul.
Loftis, the devil has taken your soul.. May God have mercy on your soul
You poor filthy liar. May God have mercy on your tortured soul.
Loftis, you are a filthy liar. The devil has taken your soul. Hehehe
Loftis, the devil has taken your soul and you sit in your own putrid fifth. May God have mercy on your soul…A vile life style, lies, false accusations too numerous to name, violence against women, abuse of power in office… Your 2 C girls are talking and your staff and former staff have a lot to say…Loftis is not qualified and not able to understand the world of finance. He is all mouth, no action. Oh, take money from the trust fund of retirees , from the 529 fund, from the unclaimed property fund to go to your Campaign debt? to friends and friends of friends? Transparency Loftis. Transparency… We know you.. and we have information.. on paper.. All documented.