STATE HOUSE INVESTIGATION PICKING UP MOMENTUM
|| By FITSNEWS || An ongoing joint state-federal investigation into corruption at the S.C. State House has picked up considerable momentum in the five days since S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson announced his latest abdication of prosecutorial authority, sources close to “the probe” tell FITS.
The uptick in investigative activity has furthered rumors that the investigation had stalled under Wilson’s, um, “leadership.”
Late last Friday Wilson announced he was recusing himself related to specific legislative targets of the investigation – the first real news related to the probe to surface in several months. In fact things had gotten so quiet, most State House insiders assumed the investigation was over.
It’s not … although the once-crusading attorney general with one eye on the governor’s mansion (and another on Washington, D.C.) is relegating himself to the back bench of the inquiry.
For the second time in as many years, Wilson handed off prosecutorial authority related to public corruption matters to S.C. first circuit solicitor David Pascoe – although multiple sources close to the probe tell us it’s now being driven by federal investigators.
How come? “Lethargy” at the state level, according to one of our moles.
Exclusively uncovered by this website last September – the probe has already brought down powerful former S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell. Last October, Harrell pleaded guilty to six ethics-related counts, resigned his office and received three years of probation. He also signed a cooperation agreement with the government agreeing to assist investigators moving forward – although it’s not clear if (or how) that’s happening.
Several sources familiar with the investigation have told FITS Harrell may not be cooperating to the extent he promised.
Harrell’s prosecution was handled by Pascoe after Wilson recused himself in that case, too, citing an undisclosed conflict.
Wilson has yet to disclose his conflict regarding the latest round of recusals, either.
As we’ve repeatedly noted, cash doled out by political action committees is said to be at the heart of the investigation. In fact these alleged disbursements were rumored to be among the items discussed in a heavily redacted S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) report on Harrell – news of which also broke exclusively on FITS.
The most popular parlor game in Columbia, S.C.? Guessing the identity of the lawmakers whose names were discussed in the redacted sections of that report.
As we noted last week, many observers believe Wilson’s recusal indicates at least some of those members could be affiliated with the neo-Confederate political empire of Richard Quinn and Associates – which manages the political destinies of numerous state lawmakers and elected officials, including Wilson. Sources close to the investigation have now confirmed that belief, although they are declining to provide us with the names of individual lawmakers under scrutiny.
Of interest? Our sources say there is at least one “high-profile former legislator” implicated in the investigation, although a name was not provided.
Could they be referring to S.C. governor Nikki Haley? Who evaded accountability for her serious ethical lapses in a 2012 show trial put on by her former colleagues in the S.C. House of Representatives?
(For overtly political reasons, we’d add).
Possibly … although prior rumors of Haley’s connection to the investigation have been widely disputed.
Obviously we’ll continue to update our readers on what we’re able to uncover … but it’s clear at this point that an investigation which seemed to be going nowhere last week is suddenly back on track in a big way.
50 comments
Indictments are forthcoming…… the week prior to the SC GOP debate.
When is that? Boz Martin told us August 15th. Boz is never wrong.He promised us indictments in Horry County for YEARS over campaign donations. How many indictments? ZERO! LMAO!
Only litigation that happened was The Sun News getting sued for libel and LOSING. Oh my!
It’s OK, you and GrandTango are still wrong way more often than Boz is.
Effin’ A!
And that’s a whole shitload of wrong right there. Even for two people. Contrary to semi-popular opinion, they are two people, not one. Neither of them being either Will or Karl.
You would know hacker.
Good luck he’s behind 7 proxies.
“Behind 7 Proxies” is the name of my next punk/industrial fusion band.
If you knew anything you’d understand what the “seven proxies” meme is actually about, but you are Flip The Magnificent, Stupidest man in all of FITSLand.
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/good-luck-im-behind-7-proxies
Won’t matter, the GOP could perform human sacrifices on the Statehouse lawn and still win. There simply is no viable opposition. I agree that it looks like the Rs are out of control but I have yet to see the the D that could be better. Nobody is going to vote for someone who sees everything as racial or thinks more Laws and bigger Government is the answer to everything. When I was in Florida as a Ind. voter I voted D 95% of the time. I don’t think that would be the case now with the state full of Alan Graysons and Deborah Wassermans. I stay mad as hell that everything now has to be a choice between one far extreme or the other.
Did someone say “Probe”? Sign me up.
Never again,Lindsey. You’ve got to learn how to wipe…
Or call Daniel Brennan. He and his boyfriend went to a foreign country where the legal age for gay sex is 14 years old.
What sick fuck wants a 14 year old boy? I suppose you would have to ask Daniel Brennan.
Pete Hegseth and the Concerned Veterans for America are after Loftis. They want him out so they can put in one of their own. They are breaking the IRS law on political activity. The IRS will be looking into it as just filed an official complaint.
TeeHee
I like MEN.You ever seen one?
http://www.macksf.com/dx052.jpg
9″ to Wonderer… This is a pervert and Loftis loves perverts. Too bad his ass is infected and his penis is oozing, crap. Dream on Loftis… Nobody wants your infected butt and wrinkled aged balls . You have lost your prime and you are disgusting.. And you must be impeached now. Gross is not cute… Violence against women is not cute, violent temper and crashing state owned computers is not cute , Destroying state computers with information of millions of tax payers in SC is not cute, Violating the information of millions of tax payers is not cute..Loftis is a danger to The state of SC and to the tax payers of South Carolina. How many people in this State are paying taxes? Well Loftis got your information and he is violating the information of millions, including yours..
Curtis, seriously man. You need to let. it. go.
Curtis Lotis has sworn to defend and preserve the constitution of the State of SC and of the United States…He has violated the civil rights laws. DON”T ASK, DON”T TELL was repealed in 2011. It is illegal to bash gay in the military or public domain, as it is illegal to bash black men… Loftis should be stopped now. Gay Loftis, racist Loftis with multiple mental and physical problems. Not qualified to be treasurer of SC.. HS degree does not qualify you to work in finance .. He has lost millions from the trust fund of the State retirees and the tax payers but has given millions to his minions and gays friends. He hired DB and 5 young PR guys with a bulge! They left because they could not stand his SHIT. Period. Loftis has violated the oath of the STO.. and must be impeached
I like you Millionstominions. You have hit the nail on the head. He has violated his oath to the office he holds. Hope the right people are reading these comments.
You are so sick. Please resign and check into rehab., man. CML, do you know how many people you’ve pissed off? You would be astounded to know! You’ve treated so many wrongly. Why can’t you let go of Dan? He never posts anything about you. He just wants to be rid of you. Many want to forget any association with you. Having to work with you and your C girls was a nightmare. Those who discovered the real you are sickened by the sight of you, even a picture of you on social media. Unbelievable how you’ve screwed the state. Unbelievable how you so easily lie to the state’s citizens. You have duped a lot of people. I’m concerned that you no longer know when you are untruthful. Please get help. Please pray for forgiveness. I admit that it is hard for me to do, but I do pray for you. Your getting elected was a fluke. Please resign before you do any further damage to people’s lives and to the state.
You are full of SHIT… Accusations without proof , slander are Loftis ’s trade mark…In the following links, below :”” Attacks like this orchestrated by Mr Curtis Loftis an American citizen living in South Carolina are hardly the type of publicity American citizens need… The accusations by Mr Loftis are completely unfounded, they are heinous and self motivated… Hopefully the attorney general’s office will soon seek interview with Mr. Loftis ” This was written 1/19/04. Today we call on the attorney general to stop Curtis Loftis….. Loftis has not changed and he has hurt so many people. Read the forum links;
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.talk.royalty/4oQf9ePmfos
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/alt.talk.royalty/1h4mzU1M4Wc/ULaD2VOGTo8J
Loftis has an issue with projection.. Could it be that he likes gay sex with 14 years old,? It sure does not mean that people visiting Iceland have sex with 14 years.old. If Loftis talk about violence against women, he has done it (see police record) If he talks against false accusation and slander, he has done it. If he talks about gay sex, he has done it.. Projection… Poor fellow
Oh, If Loftis talks about IRS issues, well , look at the house 353 Shadow Race lane in Folly Beach with $14,274.14 in delinquent taxes… projection… Pay your taxes…. Mr Transparency.
Oh , If Loftis talks about official complaint, well, he has one against him with the State Ethics Commission.. projection .. His karma is sure a bitch…
How can he get away with not paying his taxes? The person in charge of the state’s money doesn’t pay his taxes! Apparently Loftis thinks the laws we all must follow don’t apply to him. If his head gets any bigger, it will explode. Heard he is behind two years on the taxes on that house. I don’t believe he has as much money as he claims he does. Pay up buddy!
You can sign up on my craigslist ad
Alan Wilson should resign and David Pascoe should be the AG. What has Alan Wilson been doing in his life to have so many conflict of interests?? If he cannot properly perform his essential duties as an AG, why is he even the AG. This is perhaps one of the most significant probe of our time getting to the roots of legislative corruption. If Alan Wilson cannot directly investigate ANY corruption in high places, why is he even the AG? How will then, of he has ambitions for Governor’s office, will he handle corruption in high places as a Gov?? Recuse himself and let the investigation meander leaderless?? Let the brave David Pascoe be the AG and the Governor. We already have DO NOTHINGERS in Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, we dont need another one in the Governors office. Incredible! Keep the story coming FITS! Great Job!
The same reason(s) then SC Attorney General Travis Medlock was not the leading investigator and prosecutor in the legislative scandals that lend Operation Lost Trust. The nature of investigating people with whom you share alliances, friends, politics, consultants, any other connections, that could possibly be used by Defense Attorneys hired by the prospective indicted legislators dictates often, that an outside entity take on the investigation and prosecution. Whatever the result, you and others would be first in line screaming cover-up, white-wash, etc., if certain legislators were indicted, or not indicted, without being privy to the same evidence. So for high profile political corruption in this kind of scenario, handing it off to Pascoe is the right course of action, if the desire is to actually secure convictions that withstand appeal.
Really?? Really??….To use Henry McMasters chant “If you look hard enough, you will find a conflict of interest”. Do you actually know the implications of conflict of interest…??
Do not remember the legal case..but here is the federal judge’s opinion….”It is not then surprising or deleterious to the case or subject to appeal that there merely exists a conflict of interest…It is more relevant how this conflict was managed and mitigated.”
McMaster’s critics did not refer to that case when raking him over the coals for not prosecuting Sanford, for many of the same crimes that Wilson secured guilty pleas with from Ard.
It is not about what the critics say, is it? My point is that conflict of interest has a pretty high bar to interfere with investigation and prosecution, and is not in any way an impediment to rightful pursuit of justice. Cowards often take refuge of conflict of interest excuse, in my experience. MacMaster did what he did..and is now in a dead-end position. Alan Wilson may want to end up there also, who knows. But if he want to run for a governor, better show some spine and win people’s trust and loyalty. This is actually a splendid opportunity for him to do so. Lets hope he listens to his heart.
“What has Alan Wilson been doing in his life to have so many conflict of interests?? ”
Damn exactly right!
Sounds pretty big , but how deep do they expect the probe to go ?
Its been a lot of posturing thus far without any concrete moves, as you know. The probe is just vibrating outside right now and the legislators are feeling its proximity probably. It will likely be a sudden plunge, as per my political fantasy. How deep is probably an academic question….how bad are the consequences to those involved is more what the voters care about…that will give just a little peace of mind for our citizens who have seen their future evaporate in the hands of such bad apples.
The Obama Justice Department investigating a bunch of Red State Confederate legislators during the election cycle. What might come of that?
Probably about the same that’s come of their investigation of Fast and Furious and Benghazi…oh wait…
I’ll believe anyone is doing anything when the indictments come down.
But, if the complete kangaroo court ethics committee white wash of what Nikki did – a paid, unregistered lobbyist while a sitting legislator – did not get the attention of the feds when the AG did nothing, it sure should have.
That’s why it’s a house of cards.
One of the problems with this affair is S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson is part of the same fraternity as most of the legislators and elected officials. It is difficult, if not almost impossible to find someone in state government that would not have some some preconceived notion of the innocence or guilt of the people under investigation. They are all part of the the same club, both Republicans and Democrats, “The Good Ole Boys Club”(and sometimes a good ole girl) and the allegiance runs deep, whether you are Republican or Democrat.
Calling in S.C. first circuit solicitor David Pascoe, a Democrat, would have the appearances of of at least making the investigation bi-partisan, unencumbered by political party allegiance, but he is part of the club.
The solution, don’t elect crooks and potential criminals, but that would diminish the available political candidates in SC to damn near zero. Back to the drawing board.
He’s a Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) just like Curtis Loftis.
Democrats investigate, after they gravitate, to a welfare check and food stamps.
Ever wonder why people in SC can’t Fucking stand you?
My name says it all!
People Wake UP!!!!
WE NEED TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can’t get term limits without a Constitutional Amendment. You can’t get a Constitutional Amendment unless the legislators whose terms you propose to limit agree. Its a flaw in the system.
Haley is an Anchor Baby. Her parents came to this country and overstayed their Visa. She should not even be a US citizen. Send her packing back to India.
You may say that she’s a Dreamer,
But she’s not.
She’s an Anchor Baby.
Hmmm. Does not scan as well as the original.
Maybe the Shiite is about to hit the fan.
NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will has another mouth to feed and needs some worms for the baby birds. Who could be bringing them in? Tricky Dick? A wanna-be-in-the-“in-crowd” lawyer? Someone who wants to run for AG? I know who my money is on….
Funny how things get going when a Wilson gets out of the way. Same for Alan as for Joe. Both need to do SC a favor and make this their last term. No more Wilson’s!
Found you again on another Fits blog, Curtee! No surprise, but you didn’t answer questions I posed on the earlier Alan Wilson story! Cat got your tongue? Good news — you will have to answer TRUTHFULLY under oath. Do you know what happened to David Padgett after he was let go from Treasurer’s Office? Didn’t you two go to high school together?