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Ethics Comm. Chr.: Sanford’s waiver did not apply to entire investigation

October 19, 2009 By

The South Carolina Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments regarding who should be able to view the preliminary investigative report by the state Ethics Commission into Gov. Mark Sanford’s business trips.

Sanford does not want the preliminary report given to the South Carolina House, which is the body that would begin impeachment proceedings.

Members of the Ethics Commission argue that the court should reject Sanford’s move to block release of the preliminary report because it has not yet been finished.

One point in the case is the fact that Governor Sanford waived his right to confidentiality at the beginning of the investigation by the Commission. But Ethics Commission Chairman Herb Hayden told the South Carolina Radio Network after Monday’s hearing that the the waiver only applies to specific things. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Lawmakers set date to correct lost unemployment funds

October 19, 2009 By

State legislators will return to the Statehouse October 21to restore federal unemployment funds that ran out this past weekend. Under the Sine Die Resolution, lawmakers can return to address what House and Senate leaders are calling an oversight made by the Employment Security Commission.

In a statement from House Speaker Bobby Harrell, he says they expect the process to take no longer “than just a few days” and the General Assembly will not get legislative pay for their meeting time.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell issued a joint statement saying, “The General Assembly will take quick action to fix this oversight by the ESC to ensure that unemployed South Carolinians will not suffer further by being denied this Federal benefit.”

They says this situarion highlights a need for reforming the ESC from “a reactive check writing agency into a proactive job placement agency.”

Filed Under: Economy, Legislature, News

Governor’s claims questioned in Supreme Court arguments

October 19, 2009 By
SC Supreme Court, site of governor’s latest showdown with the legislature

South Carolina’s highest court Monday heard arguments that may be a first for South Carolina: when a governor is investigated for ethics violations, who should get the information and what can they do with it.  The parties in the case are the governor who wants to tell his side of the story, the legislature poised to consider impeachment and the investigating panel that says the governor has waived his right to protest parts of the case. Add the fact that the case has been aired in the media for the past few months–and it creates complex problems.

As with many Supreme Court arguments, participants certainly left the courtroom with a clearer understanding of the issues as well as the truths behind the claims being made by all parties.

The state Ethics Commission has been investigating four aspects of Gov. Mark Sanford’s spending, as explained by commission attorney Cathy Hazelwood:  foreign travel, campaign finance, gifts of travel on private airplanes, and first class travel.  In spite of the governor’s argument that he should be given a chance to present, as he says, “the rest of the story,”  his attorneys have been  privy to the process already, in writing.  
Listen to Hazelwood on sharing of information :28
[Read more...]
Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Coast Guard and Navy continue search for F-16

October 19, 2009 By

The efforts to find pilot Captain Nicholas Giglio and the F-16 have officially gone from “Active” to “Recovery.” Spokesperson, Lt. Emily Chilson with the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter says, “Right now the coast guard and navy continue to coordinate the recovery efforts. Shaw is helping in any way that we can. The investigation board has convened so we’re waiting for that process to continue to unfold.”

In a news conference late Saturday, a spokesperson said they believe Captain Nicholas Giglio died immediately after a mid-air collision Thursday night with another F-16 being flow by Captain Lee Bryant. The accident happened during training exercises off the Charleston. Bryant was released from the hospital with no injuries.

 Giglio leaves behind a wife, a 15 month-old daughter and a baby boy on the way.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Killed high school student was autistic, officer released

October 19, 2009 By

New details unraveled over the weekend on the high school incident that involved a student and an officer. Last Friday, a Carolina Forest High School student asked the school’s resource officer, Lance Corporal Marcus Rhodes, if they could talk. It was then the student, 16-year-old Trevor Varinecz, pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer several times, according to investigators. Authorities say the officer retaliated by shooting Varinecz five times, which resulted in death.

No word on exactly why Varinecz pulled out the knife, but friends say he was not a violent person. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports Varinecz suffered from a mild form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome. Rhodes was released from the hospital.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating.

Filed Under: Accidents & Disasters, Crime & Courts, News
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