SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd says as far as his agency is concerned, the criminal investigation into Governor Sanford’s trips is complete. Lloyd testified before a Senate subcommittee Friday. Lloyd said he found Sanford committed no criminal or civil violations, but says he would pursue other issues if they were brought up later. Attorney General Henry McMaster called for the review by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division after revelations of Sanford’s affair with an Argentine woman while on a state-funded trip.

Lloyd says at no time has his agency gone into any other person’s life and performed such an inquiry as he did with the governor.  “What we’ve said all along, which for some reason some members and others don’t seem to get, is that we’re a law enforcement agency.  If your neighbor says something is going on, we need some evidence to verify that.  No one ever brought us that in this case.”  [Read more...]

The first hearing looking into state spending connected to Governor Sanford’s trips was held in the State Senate building Friday. Greenville Republican Senator David Thomas, who chairs the Finance Administrative Subcommittee, said that he had heard of plans by others to make the issue a political football during the upcoming governor’s race.Thomas said that he wants to get rid of the issue, that has been bothering the state, interfering with the focus that lawmakers need on the main issues.  “We  need to get that off the table as fast as we can.  And I’m confident that if we thoroughly look at all the issues that the taxpayers are concerned about that the matter will be resolved.  I’m pretty confident, as a matter of fact,  that what the governor has said is the case, is that there has been no misuse of funds, and hopefully all of this can be confirmed.” 

Two of the three subcommittee members were on vacation and not present for the meeting.

SLED Director Reggie Lloyd testified Friday, reiterating what has been said before, that SLED’s investigation into five of Sanford’s trips revealed no violation of the law. Thomas says more hearings will be conducted over the next six to eight weeks. [Read more...]