ALLIES OF S.C. ATTORNEY GENERAL IMPLICATED IN OBSTRUCTED INVESTIGATION
S.C. Rep. Rick Quinn and his father – influential neo-Confederate political consultant Richard Quinn – are both named in the still-secret sections of an investigatory report prepared in December 2013 by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), multiple sources familiar with the contents of the document tell us.
The report – prepared in connection with the statewide grand jury that indicted former S.C. Speaker Bobby Harrell – also contains multiple references to former S.C. House “majority” leader Jimmy Merrill.
That information was previously reported on by John Monk of The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper (see our follow-up coverage here and here) – although for some reason Monk declined to reveal the Quinns’ inclusion in the document.
Why not? We’re not sure yet, but that’s the first of several unanswered questions we hope to get to the bottom of over the next few weeks …
The revelation raises fresh questions about recent efforts by S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson – a longtime ally of the Quinns (and a top client of their consulting empire) – to shut down an ongoing probe into corruption at the S.C. State House.
Wilson’s obstructionism – and his office’s bungled attempt to politicize the scandal – have made statewide headlines over the last two weeks.
His obstructionism is especially disturbing, however, considering he previously recused himself from the case (citing unidentified conflicts) and designated S.C. first circuit solicitor David Pascoe to stand in his shoes.
Pascoe was the one who successfully oversaw the prosecution of Harrell.
Neither Rick nor Richard Quinn were immediately available to comment on their names allegedly being included in the report. Wilson did not immediately respond to our request for comment, either.
Our network of sources has provided us with a wealth of information over the last few days on the status of this ongoing investigation – which was exclusively uncovered by this website back in September 2014.
Stay tuned for much more …