© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

South Carolina Statehouse Corruption Probe Continues

Lexington Rep. Rick Quinn, (R) talking with news reporters at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia
Jim Covington/SC Public Radio
Lexington Rep. Rick Quinn, (R) talking with news reporters at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia

For the past three years a special state prosecutor has been methodically conducting a corruption probe involving members of the S.C. General Assembly. To date, four sitting legislators have been indicted. The indictments so far involve violations of state ethics laws, and the reporting of income and campaign contributions. Some say these laws are so weak that they allow lawmakers to skirt them and use their offices for personal financial gain.

S.C. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe.
Credit Jim Covington/SC Public Radio
S.C. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe.

Last week State Representative Rick Quinn of Lexington County … a former House Republican leader was indicted by the state Grand Jury on two counts of misconduct in office … for using his elected office to benefit his political consulting business. Quinn denies the charges.

Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.