SC

Nikki Haley Removes Local Official Over Tax Charge

MORE HYPOCRISY? S.C. governor Nikki Haley – who has a long history of tax problems and questionable financial dealings – removed a member of Richland County government this week for his tax-related transgressions. Haley issued an executive order – leaked to the Associated Press – declaring vacant a Richland County…

MORE HYPOCRISY?

S.C. governor Nikki Haley – who has a long history of tax problems and questionable financial dealings – removed a member of Richland County government this week for his tax-related transgressions.

Haley issued an executive order – leaked to the Associated Press – declaring vacant a Richland County council seat held by Kelvin Washington, who turned himself into authorities two months ago in connection with a S.C. Department of Revenue (SCDOR) probe of proceeds from a controversial local tax hike.

Her rationale in issuing the order?  That the crimes Washington has been accused of committing are indicative of “moral turpitude” – a vague, catch-all term that could conceivably be used to describe any offense.

Do we agree with her?  In this case, yes.

Washington was also charged with felony driving under the influence last month after a traffic accident that occurred near Hopkins, S.C.  Haley originally threatened to remove him for that offense, but wound up booting him as a result of the tax charges he is facing.

That could be politically problematic for her … not because Washington didn’t deserve to get the boot (again, he absolutely did), but because Haley has very little room to judge others when it comes to tax problems.  Or participation in shady financial dealings.

We suspect Haley’s order will stand (in fact we don’t expect Washington to challenge it), but it will be interesting to see if Democrats use the issue to revive longstanding questions about Haley’s personal finances.

Meanwhile, the declaration of a vacancy on Richland County council will prompt a special election for Washington’s seat.

Hopefully it will also drive further investigation into the “rigged election” at the heart of the investigation that brought Washington down.

***

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25 comments

shitonit March 16, 2016 at 2:07 pm

It’s a start. I only hope mayor Benjamin is next

Reply
swpbbls March 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm

So what’s the latest on the ‘big movement’ ? All the Ted Cruz culties are supposed to be eating Froot Loops® today and doing something really green tomorrow.

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein March 16, 2016 at 2:34 pm

REGGAE PRO TIP:
Courtesy of Peter Tosh

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BJ and the Bear; and Nikki March 16, 2016 at 2:48 pm

Do as I say bitches, not as I do.

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Denozitall March 17, 2016 at 5:09 am

++10

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Mom March 16, 2016 at 2:49 pm

Nikki Haley does NOT have a long history of tax problems and questionable financial dealings. There were, maybe 2 dealings which were “questionable”. One involved Lexington Medical Center/lobbying payment BEFORE she was elected and the other was some small tax discrepancy at her parent’s clothing business long before she was elected. Another example of FITS stretching the truth in hopes of destroying Nikki Haley.

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bj March 16, 2016 at 3:18 pm

FITS doesn’t have to destroy Haley, she’s doing just fine on her own.

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Denozitall March 17, 2016 at 5:09 am

+10

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nitrat March 16, 2016 at 4:57 pm

As I recall, Trikki never paid a county property tax, state income tax or federal withholding tax for the family company on time. The feds placed liens to get her to pay those. She seemed to enjoy paying large penalties to compensate for paying some variety of taxes late.
Based on the discrepancy between her income reported to the feds and what she claimed she was making from the family biz, have we ever heard whether she was trying to impress Lex Med or cheating on her state and federal taxes?

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Mom March 16, 2016 at 5:34 pm

Is that all ya got?

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Krazy Kat March 16, 2016 at 2:55 pm

People are asking why she has not removed Donnie Myers as well.
The two cases are VERY different!
Mayers is a white Republican with many well placed friends.
Washington is not.

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TroubleBaby March 16, 2016 at 3:17 pm

Robert Ford on line 1.

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Krazy Kat March 16, 2016 at 4:17 pm

Calling from the Lions Den to say his credit card isn’t working.

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TroubleBaby March 16, 2016 at 6:49 pm

“I gots to keep da ladies in my district happy.”
*scribbles in expense book- “electoral outreach”*

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shifty henry March 17, 2016 at 9:55 am

” “electoral outreach”*

omigod! — that’s worth 1,000 +++

I love it..!!

shifty henry March 17, 2016 at 10:01 am

I think it was Shaft, upon receiving a call told his bartender that he had to leave because, “I feel it’s my duty to take care of that booty!”

shifty henry March 17, 2016 at 10:04 am

“electoral” — Ford was trying to write “clitoral” but he really is a lousy speller.

shifty henry March 17, 2016 at 9:58 am

I don’t know how this will work but I recently saw an article that discussed how hackers can remotely activate sex toys and possibly listen in on activity. I did not fully understand the article or how it works or the results of a hack, but if anyone out there can get details — please let us know ..!!

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shifty henry March 17, 2016 at 10:05 am

Someone should copy all of these comments (without names!) and mail them to Ford…

Reply
LouieBuoy March 16, 2016 at 4:12 pm

Crazy racist white woman? Just asking, cause I can’t tell what one looks like these days. Esp. since I am told that Hagillary Clinton is not one – a crazy racist white woman. I get confused easily…

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nitrat March 16, 2016 at 5:04 pm

Not doing anything for 2 months after he pled guilty to the tax scam makes it look like she didn’t plan to do anything until he nearly killed someone with the DUI.

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Lone Ranger March 16, 2016 at 5:08 pm

Richland County’s Lillian McBride voters said…what?…ain’t no thang to us since we figga

We’ll just cock and reload and replace this felon wid his mother-in-law—another lawless… !!!

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C Ya Kelvin March 16, 2016 at 5:11 pm

I’m no fan of SCDOR but they get credit for this one.

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Emelda Marcos March 17, 2016 at 4:49 pm

“I am announcing today that I’ve got me surrounded, and that if I don’t give up, I am coming in to get me.”

Reply

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