JUDGE’S DECISION SETS THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE WHITEWASH OF CORRUPTION …
As this website predicted over a month ago, S.C. Circuit Court judge Casey Manning has decided to refer a public corruption case involving powerful S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell to a so-called “ethics” committee in the S.C. House of Representatives – a chamber controlled by Harrell.
Yeah … how’s that for “accountability?”
According to Manning’s ruling, Harrell’s House has “exclusive authority” over the probe.
“The allegation of the citizen’s complaint giving rise to this investigation were conclusively within the Ethics Code,” Manning wrote. “Despite multiple requests, the Attorney General has failed to offer or present to the Court any evidence or allegations which are criminal in nature.”
Not only that, Manning shut down Wilson’s grand jury – ordering that “neither the grand jury nor any other investigative agency shall take any further action concerning the ethics violation allegations discussed herein until such a time as a final determination is made by the House of Representatives.”
Amazing …
Manning’s decision means state lawmakers have de facto immunity from criminal prosecution when it comes to using their positions of public trust for personal gain – a recipe for disaster in a state already ranked among the most corrupt in America.
It also means South Carolinians should get ready for a whitewash similar to the one S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley benefited from two years ago … unless of course S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson is able to successfully appeal the ruling (which seems unlikely given Harrell’s unholy alliance with S.C. Chief Justice Jean Toal and the starring role he played in securing her legislative reelection).
Wilson referred Harrell’s corruption case to a statewide grand jury back in January. Last week he told Manning his investigation had uncovered likely criminal activity beyond what has already been alleged in public complaints.
Clearly that did nothing to convince Manning – who in addition to being under the thumb of Toal may have issued his order under threat of blackmail.
Whatever motivated his ruling, Manning’s legacy is now secure as an aider and abettor of corruption – a tool of the shameful, self-serving political establishment that continues to hold this state back and let those in positions of power operate under a different set of rules.
Despite Manning’s cowardly decision, Wilson remains undeterred.
“We believe today’s order of Judge Manning is without any foundation or support in the law,” a statement from his office read. “This Office will vigorously pursue all appellate remedies and will seek to continue this investigation.”
Good for him …
Harrell was busted in 2012 improperly reimbursing himself from his campaign account for dubious flight-related expenses (Harrell is a pilot). How much? More than $325,000. He also stands accused of applying improper pressure on the S.C. Pharmacy Board and the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (SCLLR) on behalf of his pharmaceutical business – using his official letterhead, no less. Additionally, Harrell’s political action committee is under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating and misreporting funds – including an effort to force taxpayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars on an unnecessary transportation project.
And again … those are just the instances of corruption we know about.
As bad as Harrell’s self-serving behavior has been his response to the scandal. First he lied and refused to release his records. Then he assassinated the character of one of the reporters who was investigating him – reportedly strong-armed her newspaper into backing down (by allegedly threatening to withhold an annual bribe the paper receives from the S.C. General Assembly).
More recently Harrell has launched a “blood war” against Wilson (FITS has previously reported on several components of that effort – HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE).
Additional retribution is reportedly forthcoming …
Wilson supporters – somehow – remain optimistic.
“It’s not over yet,” one Wilson ally told FITS. “This is just a battle. Alan will win the war.”
For the sake of what’s left of the public trust in South Carolina, we sure hope they’re right …
UPDATE – Manning’s order.
122 comments
Cockroach Manning rules in favor of Cockroach Harrell
All is Well in Cockroach Kingdom
Casey Manning, what little respect the public had for you is now gone.
You are just another Toal whore.
It does not mean Harrell is not guilty! It just means manning and Toal are bought and paid for, just like the rest of our judges and elected officials in the Legislature!
And you, sir, are an ignorant fool.
And you have a butt plug shoved up your ass.
Your momma must have been an ignorant whore based on your fact-free post.
These fuckers are worst than televangelists.
Don’t talk about their Hine-asses like that. Remember they are royalty and we are mere peasants!
They just increaseed their pay and retirement exponentially, hardly a word was uttered!
Even those already retired will get an outrageous increase based on the new salary!
Where else can this happen?
He who makes the rules wins every time and they make their own rules!
Agree. At least Jimmy Swaggart cried “I have sinned” before his flock.
Harrell is probably more the Jim Bakker kind.
‘sharon’ you and others are just pissed off that these wild,bizzare,false,slanderous/libelous conspiracy theories and allegations that liberal/RINO/socialists create and try and facilitate thru media are exposed as being FALSE.
Get a life gang.
Bobby, You’ve already returned some of the money. Now think about the ways in which you can continue to atone.
I don’t think Sandi is Bobby, I think it’s some paid intern who’s daddy got her a job which primarily consists of being on her knees in Bobby’s office.
Sandi Morals. Hmmm. Sand is an unstable soil type. Never build on it. SHIFTING Sandi Morals? Shifting morals? Ahhhh… unstable and likely to change morals….
They really are. Idiot sons of politicians can’t be trusted to read the law or follow it. Judge Manning followed the law and had the gall to quote Wilson’s own writings! How dare he quote Wilson! If Alan Wilson, Cindy Scoppe, and Billy Folks are on the same side of the issue, Judge Manning is in good company.
Harrell’s in heavenly bliss. Manning’s blow job on him was the ultimate.
As someone who isn’t a SC native, since I’ve been here this is what I’ve just expected to happen. Which is why SC will continue to have the reputation as a hillbilly state.
As a lifelong resident I sadly agree with you!
I disagree. SC is a beautiful state with the mountains to the coast. Culturally diverse with the arts,music and sports.
This is from someone that got fucked by the Family Court in SC, with the ‘ex’ and my children working for convicted felon’s in SC, hiding behind ‘fish’ and laundering ‘doe’.
Remarried with a wonderful family and we just love SC. Some may be corrupt however most natives of SC are very fair and forgiving.
Fine … file the appeal. Open an investigation into Manning.
“You bring a fist. I bring a bat. You bring a bat. I bring a knife …”
Man Robert Ford really screwed up! He could have gotten off and kept his Senate seat! Lawmakers are unaccountable!
I will take a bat against a knife anytime. Now a sword is another matter.
Somehow, I didn’t expect much more from the criminal’s friend, Casey Manning. Someone disagreed with me on another thread about Manning’s character, telling how Manning showed real character when they prosecuted drug cases, long years ago.
Most of the news stories I have seen in recent years show Casey Manning to be a “criminal’s judge”….. and maybe a criminal, himself.
So Bobby is handing out gift bag in celebration of his exoneration?
Yeah, Gift bags of expensive Scotch has been delivered to Jean and Bill Toal’s house……
And do not look for United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina Nettles to sweep down from his throne to clean up SC politicos either. Why, just a few short years ago, he cleared Sen Graham by taking his word that he did not know Chinese donor Jian-Yun “John” Dong for Lindsey Graham’s 2008 election illegally funneled foreign cash into Graham’s campaign.
Did not hear about it? I double dog dare you to find any Midland’s news media outlet that reported the whitewash.
I remember reading about it in the Post and Courier.
Bill Nettles appears to be worthless as far as political corruption is concerned.
As far as I can tell, his major claim to fame as US Attorney is mortgage fraud cases on the Grand Strand.
It is a shame. What is he afraid of? He needs to be replaced.
Nettles has been intentional kept in the dark from the higher up in DC that have been following.
Bullshit. He reads the newspaper like everyone else. What authority does Nettles have over this situation?
A leadership PAC sponsored by an elected official cannot use funds to support that official’s own campaign. Harrell has one, the Palmetto Leadership Council. This leadership PAC is considered a non-connected PAC under the FEC rules. That is federal law. Was money spent illegally on Harrell’s own campaign? He will not provide records. Furthermore, nonconnected PACs are financially independent, meaning that they must pay for their own administrative expenses using the contributions they raise. Although an organization may financially support a nonconnected PAC, these expenditures are considered contributions to the PAC and are subject to the dollar limits and other requirements of the Act. Harrell has not released all records pertaining to the allegations and surreptitiously returned some money back after he spent it from his own campaign is my guess.
So tomorrow Alan Wilson needs to issue a criminal complaint to the Grand Jury.
EXACTLY!
If Wilson has anything he can indict Harrell tomorrow.There is NOTHING Manning or even Toal can do about it.Ive thought from the beginning this thing was odd.
Why “refer” it to the Grand Jury for”investigation?”Thats legal mumbo jumbo.If Wilson has anything to hang his hat on he can indict Harrell.
Either he does or he doesnt.
Yep.Kinda what the jury told TSN, the ‘fly’ and all the other conspiracy wacko’s in Myrtle Beach regarding Kelley civil suit-PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
Oh My! 600,000 GRAND later in that case! Fools.
Seriously. There is no way a criminal investigation can be shut down by politicians. If it was, the Feds would be on this in a heartbeat. As much as S.C. resembles a banana republic, we’re still part of the USA.
This is what I would call an “Uncle Tom” folks!
That little parade is gonna cost the taxpayers a lot of money.
Anyone who works in a state agency and sees how “the carpet set” reasons and connives will have little to surprise him here.
Well, Nikki don’t need some crap comming down right now. All Republicans are steller. Alan is a republican, right ?
I cannot tell you how embarrassed I am for Casey Manning and all the people who supported him in this matter. I am also embarrassed that I trusted him to send the case to the courts. I can promise you that I will never do that again. Ever.
You can’t dispute the law or the facts so you resort to rhetoric. The AG was asked for facts to show the criminal aspects of this. Your tool Wilson wiffed so he needs to slink off with you and Billy Folks.
I just read the ruling, and I’d like to say, I’m not slinking anywhere, dipshit. And I mean that in the most legal way I can. I’d also like to thank Will for having a blog which lets me say “dipshit.”
Comment first, read second. You should be embarrassed to be exposed as a fact-free commenter. What a tool…..
Alan, Don’t bother to appeal. Toal has control of Beattie, Kittredge and Hearn. She is going to just rubber stamp what she has already written for Manning. What a corrupt mess we find ourselves in here.
Yep and all of our Republicans voted for Democrat Toal!
Yeah. “Democrats” like Tom Davis and Wes Hayes. Hayes especially has always been a Democrat. He just lies to his constituents to get elected. They are awake now.
Copied from David Farrow’s facebook page today. It somehow seems appropriate.
Grandiloquent Word of the Day: Cockamamie
(KOK·a·MAY·mie)
Adjective:
-Ridiculous, implausible or silly.
-Nonsensical.
“[The origin of the term cockamamie is not confirmed. It’s believed that it’s a corruption of decalcomania, the process of transferring a design from a specially prepared paper to another surface. In the beginning, a cockamamie was a fake tattoo, moistened with water and applied to the wrist. How it took the sense of something pointless is uncertain. It’s perhaps been influenced by such terms as cock-and-bull or poppycock.”
-http://wordsmith.org/
Used in a sentence:
“What a cockamamie excuse!”
surprise, surprise , surprise.
Take that state employees you vile pieces of shit…straight from the mouth of Bobby Harrell.with all if their new pay raises..
Take that state employees you vile pieces of shit…straight from the mouth of Bobby Harrell.with all if their new pay raises..
I thought Casey Manning was a standup guy, fair and honest, perhaps above reproach – – he’s a tool and a crook, whored himself to Harrell for a few bucks, I’ll bet. I’ll never listen to another Carolina basketball radio broadcast as long as his foul stench prevails from the broadcast booth.
Who listens to that shit anyway? I only watch occasionally to see Martin go batshit on his players. They are going to knife that dude in the locker room. Martin has two seasons left – AT BEST.
I think every one of us, who think this ruling stinks, should boycott ALL Gamecocks Radio Basketball programs until they dump my ex-friend.
Manning isn’t the problem, just a symptom. Jean Toal is calling the shots and will seriously hurt anyone that crosses her. He had no option.
I think you’re right, but I can’t help thinking that he could have said, “no.” But he’ll find that out the next time I don’t return his phone call.
He could have, that’s true, but Jean Toal the Ice Queen of SC would have destroyed him, his family and anyone that maintained loyalty to him.
Probably. But I still can’t help thinking of her as a Dreher High School 60’s socialist.
Attention. Attention whore. Her $and Man daddy wanted a boy he could make governor – ala Joe Kennedy – and got Jean – who did all she could to make him think he had a boy who could be governor.
Really rich people love claiming they are socialists. Yes, the Hoefers have that much money. None have worked that hard since their two daddy warbucks croaked a few years ago.
Sounds like the student chapter president of the John Birch Society with an IQ lower than your weejuns
You don’t even know……. she is that bad…..
An incoherent set of observations. Federal what?
I want to run for the GA now and live out of my campaign account. That is legal now, right? I am ready for an Operation Lost Trust, part Deux
Call Bill Nettles and tell him. Let the rest of us know how Nettles reacts so we can all get a good laugh. Toal has his Pappy in law’s number in her cell phone. Mess with us, Bill, and those trust funds for the kids will have other trustees than you and Zoe.
“Revenge bloodletting” now begins, Mr. Harrell?
Act II?
This theater of the absurd will ultimately attract attention of the national press and major corporations / employers.
Manning, Toal, Leatherman are all stage hands.
You will destroy South Carolina to remain in power but your day will come; the curtain will fall; you are not invincible.
National Lampoon, national tragedy, that is South Carolina.
I watch from the balcony.
And now Manning and Harrell both will have federal action rammed up both of their corrupt assess. Fuck them both … hahahahaahahah (echo echo echo).
You’re ignorant….fuck you There is no federal question here
You have sperm all over your face. Been sucking bobby off, eh? ROFLMAO!!!
Wilson lost and he lost bad, real bad, and his dumb legal advisors.
A politician can violate federal campaign laws in state and local elections.
Below is a link to a report on US Attorney prosecution of a New York State senator for rigging a New York City mayoral race:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/20…
Also, see this link to a report on US Attorney prosecution of a former Missouri governor for laundering campaign contributions:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/l…
If I were Wilson, I would spit in Mannings face and bring indictments against him and Harrell. Protest marches being organized now …. Manning is going to have his fucked up black ass fried!!
A march of one dumbass
What is Manning’s home address? Form mobs and go to his house.
Cover it in toilet paper. LMAO!
Amen. He’s a legal whore. Lynch the bastard.
Manning Obstructs Justice … stay tuned for federal raids. Nettles was kept in the dark.
There’s a special place in hell for the likes of Casey Manning, who could have made the right moral decision for society but chose the wrong moral decision to advance his own career.
He should be keel-hauled politically and publicly for his cowardice.
He’ll go down in S.C. history books as one of S.C.’s great 21st century “Uncle Toms.”
As far as I’m concerned, he’s been bought by white overlords with watermelons, fried chicken and cornbread.
He’s what black folks today call a “nigger.”
That you Bill and Wanda? Fuck you convicted felons and tax evading bastards!
There is going to be one hell of a fucking backlash against Harrell and Manning by the People of South Carolina over this move.
Bullshit. Manning is retiring. He couldn’t care less what legal beagle bloggers say.
Don’t think so Scooter. Read the Judge’s Order and weep. I know that the truth hurts sometimes.
Manning just signed his own prison sentence. The entire House of Representatives will be destroyed by We The People of South Carolina. This was the last straw for them all. Gather up your pitch forks my fellow South Carolinians — we are going to kick some assess now for sure. And nothing can stop us. Nothing at all. We take no prisoners.
Good news fool. Criminal stupidity is unconstitutional so you’re off the hook!
Wow. I just read The State’s article, and this ruling is more unbelievable than I first thought. Manning ordered SLED to stop investigating Harrell. How can a state judge tell law enforcement they can’t even investigate a politician’s crime? The FBI needs to step in pronto. In the meantime, someone at SLED should leak to the press some of the evidence they have on Harrell. There needs to be some sunlight on some of his crime, then it will be harder for his political allies to give him cover.
Monk and Folks will get and give us the straight dope. The Post and Courier editorial whores will write that it’s a bright shiny day because THAT’s where Harrell comes from. We’ll see who are the whores and the whore-nots.
Manning’s order is unconstitutional. Hence, it is effectively null and void. He is placating. And he is obstructing justice from the bench (a felony). Rumors have it that they promised to increase his state retirement if he ruled in favor of Mr. Potato Face (Harrell), in addition to threats, inter alia. The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings. This war is far from over. And its about to turn really nasty as fire and brimstone will start raining down on the House of Corruption. There is going to be so much mud slinging at these tyrants, they will not know which way is up.
I hope Harrell’s victims report his abuses to FITS. And that he gets his dick cut off like his forbears did to blacks in the 1890s. After all, that’s the age we live in.
Damn you’re stupid. Billy Folks must be your lawyer too.
6 cliches in your comment. Dude, put together some original sentences please.
“This war is far from over” That says it all Scooter, you are showing your red faced ass.
I hope Harrell gets slammed into by a drunk driver and ends up you know where.
Nothing is over until we say it’s over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Last month, Wilson had argued in open court that if Manning issued an order halting his investigation, the judge would be granting a kind of immunity to certain criminal prosecutions not enjoyed by any other South Carolinian………………… 42 U.S. Code § 1981 – Equal rights under the law ………………… “All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property …. and shall be subject to” LIKE PUNISHMENT, PAINS, PENALTIES, taxes, licenses, and exactions of every kind, and to no other. …… YOU ARE HISTORY MANNING. And So Is Harrell. God as our witness, you will both fall flat on your faces. Both of your are fucked up lawless corrupt sons of bitch. All of your friends and cohorts that try to get in the way will be bulldozed.
May they both of fuck their mothers as punishment. True motherfuckers.
You sound like that piece of shit,lying lawyer from Murrels Inlet, that my attorney told me was having an affair with my former wife during my divorce!
LIES LIES LIES LIES PAIN PAIN PAIN PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT :-)
Get a life dude.
Why so angry?
Because you are a moron Scooter.
Harrell can forget about being re-elected. No chance for him at all. Most all of Charleston hates him.
Who says so? It takes a poll to determine that. His opponent is a 31-year-old unknown democrat who hasn’t spoken a word to the press. WTF are state democrats going to do about this Frankenstein? I’m with you but hear absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, you’ve got that nutcase John Steinberger, Charleston County GOP Chairman, praising Harrell, plus the P&C. Our best chance of getting rid of Harrell is jail.
Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.
Scooter, you don’t know jackcrap about what Charlestonians are thinking.
Where are all you Toal supporters? Chip Campsen? Tom Davis? Wes Hayes? James Smith? Vinny Sheheen?
We told you repeatedly how corrupt Toal is. We told you she picks judges to hear cases in which she has a personal interest. Support your bitch.
I wonder if the USDOJ can get involved.
We won’t. Thanks for askin’. We will not chance angering Aunt Jean until I get a real job.
Scooter, are you speaking to yourself again?
Wonder and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee.
Where can I geta cup of coffee for $0.25?
You would have to make yourself, I will revise my statement…
Wonder and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
I realize in the Libertarian world, the law is what you want it to be, at the time thats most convenient for you. However, the law says ethics complaints are handled by the legislature. Judge Manning should be appaluded for being able to read. If you don’t like the law, advocate for it’s change. In the meantime shut up.
Spot on….BAM! ….BA-BAM!….BA-BA-BAM!
The news would have been if the court HAD done something. This is just more business as usual in SC. In November all the sheep will go to the polls, say “baaa,” and the current malefactors will be reelected.
ALAN WILSON’S GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION IS NULL AND VOID
“Judge to AG Wilson: Stop SLED and grand jury probe of House Speaker Harrell”
Circuit Judge Casey Manning ruled Monday that Attorney General Alan Wilson and SLED must stop their ongoing state grand jury criminal investigation of possible ethics violations by House Speaker Bobby Harrell.
Manning, in a five-page order, ruled that any action taken by Wilson’s grand jury to date “is null and void.” The grand jury has been operating since around January.
Moreover, Manning also effectively disbanded the state grand jury that had been investigating Harrell and revoked a previous court order that had brought that body into being. He also ordered the state grand jury as well as any other investigative agency not to take “any further investigative action” concerning Harrell’s alleged ethics violations.
Manning said, and any action by the attorney general at this time is “premature.” …if the Ethics Committee referred ethics violations to the attorney general, the attorney general could then — and only then — begin a criminal investigation of Harrell.
“Any investigation by the state grand jury at this stage is illegitimate because the (Ethics) Act’s administrative remedies have not been exhausted,” Manning said a separate provision in the Constitution, mandating separation of powers among the three branches of government, gives the Legislature full authority over ethics investigations.
Manning’s decision also cited a 1994 State Supreme Court opinion, State v. Thrift, in which the high court held that legislative ethics act violations are civil, not criminal.
“SC watchdog group: No plan to send Harrell complaint to House panel”
The leader of a government watchdog group who accused House Speaker Bobby Harrell of corruption said Monday she has no plans to ask the House Ethics Committee to investigate those charges.
Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/05/12/4224274/sc-watchdog-group-no-plan-to-send.html?sp=/99/134/575//#storylink=cpy
So, does the House have the guts – or not?
“SC watchdog group: No plan to send Harrell complaint to House panel”
Ya know……..there is one glaring ray of “sunshine” that may come from all of this. Some fine smart school teacher may get her students to follow this entire fiasco and compare it to the political corruption being reported in KIEV and SYRIA and MOSCOW and Exxon and BOKO HARAM in Nigeria..!! When these school kids start using their smart computers in class to say “hey” to the businesses that fund the Harrell and TOAL and BOEING 900 Million scam in real time. Kids may start to teach their parents something at the dinner table.
The students first homework assignment is to ask their dads and moms to give examples of ethics violations versus criminal violations..!!
Why do some police officers decide to investigate a crime and some do not..?
When is the last time a SC politician been transparent with expenditures in REAL TIME via their FACEBOOK page so all taxpayers can view their activity 24 hours a day..?
We wonder how Judge Jean TOAL could be a subject of comparison to a Judge in Kiev protecting a “Speaker” for the DUMA..?
We wonder how fast kids could find a Judge in “Kiev” to send a letter too..?
“The students first homework assignment is to ask their dads and moms to give examples of ethics violations versus criminal violations..!!” ….Hey, Scooter, maybe someone should give AG Wilson some examples of ethics violations versus criminal violations …..
“When is the last time a SC politician been transparent with expenditures in REAL TIME via their FACEBOOK page so all taxpayers can view their activity 24 hours a day..?” …Now you have something Scooter, I would like to see AG Wilson post his campaign finances in real time on facebook, now that would be a hoot, you’d have to get a screen print often because they would probably change every other everyday.
I LOVE THE PICTURE ABOVE MR. FOLKS, BOBBY HAS IT; ALL IN THE BAG. SO TELL US MR. FOLKS, WHATS IN THE BAG, CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW :).
I wonder if the Dems can use this to their advantage in the message war.
Judge Casey Manning wrote in his decision that Attorney General Alan Wilson had not made the case that the allegations were worse than ethics violations. “Despite multiple requests, the Attorney General has failed to offer or present to the court any evidence or allegations which are criminal in nature,” Judge Manning wrote.
Judge Manning’s order, which said that neither the grand jury “nor any other investigative agency shall take any further action” on the ethics-related allegations until the House Ethics Committee either decides on the case or refers the matter to the Attorney General.
“There is no investigation, there is no grand jury,” Harrell said. “The judge asked him repeatedly, ‘Tell me something that you’ve got.’ He failed to come up with anything. He ought to release the SLED (State Law Enforcement Division) report which would answer all these questions.”
JR Berry laid down the law on his “commentary” segment last night on WLTX News 19.
Toal, Manning, and Harrell—what a legacy you’re leaving! I’m sure your grandchildren and great grandchildren will enjoy reading in their history books about the part you played in the 2014 S.C. Corruption Scandal. Congratulation!!!
Actually, they followed the law, something AG Wilson is having a real hard time doing.